Pharmacy Daily | Australian Made gets a nod

THE Government has announced it will support continued access to the 'Australian Made' logo for the Australian complementary healthcare industry, after a recent review of consumer law changes and Country of Origin labelling.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Government was responding to the findings of the Complementary Medicine Taskforce and feedback raised by industry (PD 04 Dec 2018).

"The Coalition Government is listening to the feedback of the complementary healthcare industry regarding the unintended consequences of Country of Origin labelling reforms on their products," Andrews said.

"The Australian Made logo can be of great benefit to local industry as a universal, high brand recognition, point of difference to other products...its use demonstrates to consumers that they can have the confidence that a vitamin or mineral supplement carrying the Australian Made logo has been manufactured in Australia to the highest quality standards."

The complementary healthcare sector supports the employment of around 29,000 people and exports worth around $1 billion a year.

"Under the changes, complementary medicines manufactured in Australia in production facilities regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration would be able to make the claim 'Australian made' and use the Australian Made logo," the minister said.

The Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) welcomed the move, saying the logo signified Australia's "high-quality products, manufacturing processes and regulation of the complementary medicines industry".

The ruling follows a controversial High Court decision last year which found encapsulation in Australia of imported fish oil and Vitamin D by Nature's Care would not permit the capsules to be labelled "Made in Australia" under the Country of Origin labelling provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.