Australian CM Regs Strong

Australia has an internationally well regarded regulatory system for all medicines, including herbal and other complementary medicines (CMs), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has countered the claims in a Medical Journal of Australia article published on Monday 06 Feb. The report had said there needs to be stronger regulatory control over the contents of CMs, citing the example of risks associated with aristolochia species, but the TGA has explained that any species that might contain the substance aristolochic acid must undergo the TGA pre-approval process.

Furthermore, all medicines, must be made in factories inspected by TGA officials for compliance with international manufacturing standards, and the TGA’s laboratories also test for adulterants such as heavy metals and pharmaceutical substances.  

The TGA said where it had come across adulterated herbal medicines these had been illegally imported and purchased online.

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Wednesday 9 February 2017