|
|
|
October 2007
The year has been quieter for the NHCA in terms of active lobby work, and we have mostly been visible at the Health Expos around the country, and maintained the web site, however the spotlight is now well and truly focused on the issue of impending Practitioner Registration. With a growing trend for medical practitioners to embrace integrative natural medicine, the question must be asked " how much longer before we will all be required to increase our qualifications"?
In line with this, and the fact that it's finally count down time to the Election, we have prepared a NEW survey and would encourage you to submit your thoughts, to help us prepare an Open Letter to all the politicians. It's time to make sure they know we are here !!!
Codex Update
Trans Tasman Jan 2006
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.
- Margaret Mead -
What's It All About ?
Probably the greatest challenge for practitioners right now, is to wade through the myriad of conflicting information that is flooding the Net, and your inbox, and not to succumb to a feeling of being overwhelmed.
One of our members recently summed up the situation brilliantly when she wrote :
" the industry in Australia and internationally is in a completely new ball game and in Australia at least, we are ill- prepared for the onslaught, or the aggressive competition that this new focus on preventative medicine is bringing to bear. The highly complex situation presented by Codex, the Free Trade Agreement, TGA and the proposed NZ Harmonization, regulation of nutrients under pharmaceutical guidelines, and the recent Expert Committee Recommendations, etc, etc. make it nigh on impossible for any one person or group to understand the potential ramifications or the interrelated issues they present"
The NHCA believes we are facing a number of important issues concurrently, here in Australia, which have the potential to totally change the face of Natural Healthcare in the form we know it today. They are :
As such, the NHCA is committed to taking the time and making the effort to report on these matters in a clear and concise manner. We are NOT interested in presenting material that is inflammatory or inaccurate.
We do believe there is much to be aware of, and to that end we continue to seek the facts as they stand, and aim to provide useful resources.for any group or individual that is affected.
Our industry is going through a time of MAJOR upheaval, and the NHCA believes there is a greater need for us ALL to work together as one united team.
October 2005
Another pressing issue as we see it, is that it has come to our attention that the Dept of Health & Ageing is preparing a submission for a study to be undertaken on regulation of complementary health practitioners, as per the Expert Committee Report, and the TGA is largely responsible for the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Committee Report. It may well pay all of us to re-visit the document which is posted on the NHCA site, as there is much that potentially could impact the natural health care sector, in the way we are allowed to practice, and which modalities we can use. ( note it is a very large pdf and can be viewed online)
It would appear that whilst the document has seemingly been gathering dust, this issue is not going away and we must, in all reality, address regulation of the industry, sooner than later. It would be interesting to know who is part of this implementation committee, and whether there is relevant representation on the practitioner side of the equation. Watch this space for further information !
As you can see, there is much work ahead of us !
The TGA continues to hold the position that CODEX here in Australia will not present any threat and you can click here to read their statement on this issue.
Is this the thin edge of the Wedge ?
Current legislation changing in the UK. Click here to read this article.
Read the latest appraisal of the TGA 's new rules by the CHC in the Weekend Australian 22/10/05
September 2005
On 7th September 2005, the Senate, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee, has referred the provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 2005 to the Senate Community Affairs References and Legislation Committees for inquiry and report by 28th October 2005.
The terms of reference for this committee in relation to the Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 2005 are to examine the provisions of the Bill relating to new enforcement options for the TGA and to:
- Identify if the Bill provides sufficient detail on the scope of alleged breaches to which infringement notices may apply, on the use of alternatives to court proceedings, and the extent to which the processes of investigation of offences will be in line with procedural fairness (including the use of media during investigations and prosecutions)
- Ascertain if the Bill adequately accommodates differences between registrable and listable goods;
- Examine inequity implications for Australian based manufacturers due to the non-applicability of the civil penalty regime to foreign entities; and
- Examine the need for ad hoc appeals mechanism against the imposition of an infringement notice and a fine under the civil penalties regime currently included in the Guidelines, to be included in the Regulations to preserve the appeal mechanism and prevent arbitrary variations and application.
The Committee invites written submissions on the Bill which should be lodged with the Committee by Wednesday, 5 October 2005. The Committee prefers to receive submissions electronically as an attached document - email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au – otherwise by fax (number 02 6277 5829).
The Committee intends to hold a public hearing on the Bill on Friday, 14 October 2005.
Hansard Transcript of Public Meeting for inquiry into Theraputic Goods Amendment Bill 2005
August 2005
On the 17th of August, Mr Christopher Pyne, (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing), presented a bill for an Act to amend the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. This bill aims to increase dramatically the penalty units and civil convictions for breaches against the act. This bill aims to amend the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to provide the Therapeutic Goods Administration with additional sanctions and enforcement options for dealing with suppliers and manufacturers who fail to comply with regulatory requirements including product and manufacturing standards, including: introduction of a tiered offence regime and civil penalties for breaches; providing for infringement notices, enforceable undertakings and strict liability offences; and extending territorial jurisdiction in certain circumstances. Also makes a consequential amendment to the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medical Devices) Act 2002.
Click here to view Mr Pyne's second reading of the bill, click here to view the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanies this bill or click here to view the Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 2005. Due to the structure of the current parliament, there is little that anyone can do about the passage of the document through the House of Representatives or the Senate.
As of the 24th August, the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2005 took effect. Click here to read the document.
Input from Victoria
August 2005.
A group of concerned consumers / practitioners / researchers are working hard at gathering information relating to the Codex situation that is clear and unbiased.
Click here to read their synopsis of a timeline "Governments Target Natural Medicines". If you wish to contact them directly, call John Hurley on 0421 990 651
If you feel you would like to contribute to this web site with an article please contact us
|
|