Industrial Chemicals Reforms: Update on Implementation

The current regulatory scheme for industrial chemicals (NICNAS) will continue until the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) commences. The passage of the Industrial Chemicals legislation for the new scheme is now expected to be debated in the Senate in the first half of 2019. To assist regulated entities to adequately prepare for implementation of AICIS, the Government has decided to change commencement of the scheme to 1 July 2020. Government amendments to change the commencement date will be moved at the time of debate in the Senate. The Australian Government looks forward to implementing the ban on the testing of cosmetics on animals, that is included in the Industrial Chemicals Bill 2017. This ban will also commence on 1 July 2020.   Source: NICNAS legislative update

Latest News on Plastic Microbeads Use in Australia

Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm and don’t degrade or dissolve in water. They may be added to a range of products, including rinse-off cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. Once flushed away, microbeads can have a damaging effect on marine life, the environment and human health. This is due to their composition, ability to adsorb toxins and potential to transfer up the marine food chain. The best way to reduce their impact is to prevent them from entering the environment. At a 2016 Meeting of Environment Ministers, ministers agreed to support a voluntary industry phase-out of plastic microbeads found in ‘rinse-off’ personal care, cosmetics and some cleaning products by July 2018.   Source: Microbeads (See also Accord website  Bead recede ; &, Environment ministers follow-up: Monitoring assurance protocol ).  

Accord Initiative: What to do About Wipes

Accord Australasia is the peak national industry association representing manufacturers and marketers of hygiene, cosmetic and specialty products, their raw materials suppliers and service providers. Wet wipes are single-use disposable cleaning cloths. Wipes continue to grow in popularity as a very convenient, hygienic and effective way to clean – whether it be a baby's bottom, household surface or for a specific commercial/industrial application. Unfortunately, where wipes are used – and what they are used for – can encourage flushing. This can lead to problems! Here’s everything you wanted to know about wipes and how best to dispose of them: Wipesmart

Listed Medicine Compliance Rating Scheme Has Begun

The TGA’s Listed Medicine Compliance Rating Scheme commenced on 28 November 2018 as part of its existing compliance review process. As listed medicines are not evaluated by the TGA before they are included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), they conduct post-market compliance reviews on a proportion of those on the ARTG each year to ensure their ongoing safety, quality and efficacy. To support the publication of review outcomes on the TGA website, they have developed a Listed Medicine Compliance Rating Scheme (the Scheme). The Scheme is intended to aid consumers in interpreting the outcomes of compliance reviews after they get published on the TGA website. This will enable consumers to make informed choices about their use of self-selected medicines and provide an incentive for sponsors to improve overall compliance of their products.   Source: Compliance rating scheme

TGA Fines Company Over $25,000 for Alleged Importation of Unapproved Therapeutic Goods

Australian company ESCHOICE Pty Ltd will pay penalties of over $25,000 after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued infringement notices for the alleged importation of unapproved therapeutic goods, namely medicines and medical devices for use in cosmetic procedures. Australian Border Force officers seized the imported therapeutic goods as part of Operation Antlia, a compliance initiative of the TGA. The TGA initiated Operation Antlia to target the illegal use of therapeutic goods in the cosmetics industry after a woman died from a cosmetic procedure at a Sydney clinic last year.   Source: Operation Antlia

TGA Updates the Permissible Ingredients Determination for Listed Medicines

An updated version of the Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination was registered on the Federal Register of Legislation in December 2018. A total of 6 changes have been made in the updated Determination. These changes include changes to 5 existing ingredient entries, including making requirements clearer and less restrictive; and, removal of 1 ingredient that was a proprietary formulation and incorrectly classified as being appropriate for use in listed medicines during the drafting of the original Determination. The removed ingredient is not currently used in any listed medicines in Australia.    Source: Permissible ingredients

TGA Consultation: Remaking Therapeutic Goods Order No. 78

The TGA is seeking comments from interested parties on the proposed remaking of Therapeutic Goods Order No. 78 - Standard for Tablets and Capsules and reintroducing pills into the remade Order. This consultation closes on 8 February 2019.    Source: TGA 78 consultation

TGA Reviews the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967

The Narcotic Drugs Act establishes a framework to both prevent abuse and diversion of controlled narcotics and to ensure the availability of such drugs for medical and research purposes, in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Since October 2016, the Act was extended to provide for the regulation of cannabis cultivation and production in Australia, to enable a sustainable supply of safe medicinal cannabis products for therapeutic purpose.    Source: Narcotics review

TGA Takes Action Against Peptide Clinics Pty Ltd for Alleged Advertising Breaches

The Secretary of the Department of Health has begun Federal Court proceedings against Peptide Clinics Pty Ltd, trading as Peptide Clinics Australia, alleging breaches of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act) and the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2015 (the Advertising Code). This legal action follows an investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Peptide Clinics Australia is alleged to have advertised compounded prescription only therapeutic goods, including 'peptides', on its website and other social media platforms, accessible to both registered customers and the public. It included references to serious forms of diseases, and to conditions such as anxiety and depression.    Source: Peptide Clinics busted

TGA Safety Advisories—   Source: https://www.tga.gov.au/current-year-alerts

THAN YOU tablets: the tablets contain the undeclared substance sibutramine.

NZ Therapeutic Products Regulatory Scheme Consultation

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health is seeking feedback on the draft Therapeutic Products Bill. The Therapeutic Products Bill would replace the Medicines Act 1981 and establish a new regulatory scheme for therapeutic products. Please note that Natural Health Products (including rongoā Māori) will be excluded, as far as possible, as the Government is considering options for how these could be regulated as a separate process.   Source:  NZ Therapeutic products bill

AHPA Issues Status Report on Hemp and CBD After USA Farm Bill Passage

The American Herbal Products Association has produced a Status Report after working with legal and industry experts to develop a new, free resource titled Status Report: Marketing of hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products in the United States, following passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. This document provides concise and up-to-date information on the status of such operations and products as soon as this legislation is adopted as federal law. Because of the herbal product industry’s broad interest in the impact of this legislation on hemp and CBD, AHPA is distributing this information before the bill has been signed into law. The 2018 Farm Bill has been passed by the Senate and House, but still needs to be signed into law by the President. AHPA is not aware of any indications that successful and timely completion of this is in doubt.   Source: 2018 Farm Bill passage

Australian Natural Healthcare and Wellbeing Snapshot

The domestic Australian complementary medicine industry is robust and significant . Market research shows that the popularity of complementary medicines is increasing with a growth rate of seven per cent year on year. Three-quarters of Australians, including 92 per cent of women aged 20-24; take at least one complementary medicine and a quarter of the population visit complementary healthcare practitioners each year. In Australia, the fastest growth areas are nutritional oils, men’s health and eye health. Products are manufactured to some of the highest standards in the world based on GMP validation and stringent therapeutic regulations. These standards are maintained by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) through a transparent approval process, strict manufacturing compliance guidelines and effective post-market monitoring. The TGA register also supports the complementary medicine industry with evidence-based research, monitoring and safety data. These elements combine to allow Australian manufacturers to supply world-class products at globally competitive prices.   Source: Austrade snapshot

Quote for the month:

“Stay away from negative people; they have a problem for every solution”   Albert Einstein

Australian Ministers Confirm Phase-out of Microbeads in Cosmetics