Oz CM’s high quality – ASMI
October 16, 2013
The Australian Self Medication
Industry has reassured consumers
that they can have confidence
in the quality and safety of
complementary medicines (herbal
medicines, nutritional and dietary
supplements) that are legally sold
in Australia.
The statement was a response
to a study recently published in
BMC Medicine identifying some
herbal medicines available in North
America that contain ingredients
that could pose health risks.
“Two-thirds of all Australians use
complementary medicines regularly
to optimise their health and
wellbeing and to address a range
of chronic conditions, with popular
examples being fish oil, St John’s
Wort and glucosamine,” said ASMI
Regulatory and Scientific Affairs
Director, Steve Scarff.
“Consumers can be assured that
the Australian complementary
medicines industry is one of the
most tightly regulated in the
world, with all products subject
to stringent regulations relative to
their risk profile,” he said.
“Unlike many other countries
in the world, Australia ensures
that complementary medicines
are manufactured safely and only
contain approved, safe ingredients.”
Scarff went on to explain that
Australia has a two-tiered system
for the regulation of medicines,
including complementary
medicines.
Prior to sale, supply or use, higher
risk medicines must be ‘Registered’
on the Australian Register of
Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), which
involves individually evaluating the
quality, safety and effectiveness of
the product.
Lower risk medicines containing
pre-approved, low-risk ingredients
and that make limited claims can be
‘Listed’ on the ARTG.
“When a consumer purchases
any approved complementary
medicine in Australia, they can have
confidence that the ingredients
listed on the label are, without
doubt, contained in the product.
Unfortunately, it’s a very different
picture in many other countries.
“This is why Australians are
advised not to order medicines,
including dietary supplements
and herbal preparations, over the
internet unless they know exactly
what is in the preparation and have
checked the legal requirements for
importation and use in Australia.”
Unlike in Australia, there are
currently no legal standards for
authentication of herbal products
in the United States, which has
contributed to an environment of
unethical activities, ASMI said.
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