E-DRUG: Australian Complementary Medicines in spotlight
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[See also www.theage.com.au/national/alternative-remedies-face-review-20080731-3nzu.html]
THE Australian Complementary medicines industry will face stricter
regulations and greater scrutiny of claims in advertising, under
Government plans for reform.
The Federal Government is negotiating with the industry to toughen
regulation of advertising claims and to improve the amount of
information available to the public.
Parliamentary secretary Jan McLucas said the system governing
complementary medicines currently lacks enforcement powers and
accessibility for consumers.
She said there was an urgent need to reform the complaints process and
available information on products, such as weight-loss pills,
glucosamine, vitamins and herbal remedies.
"It's very clear to me that we have to look at the whole process,
including the advertising process," she told The Age.
"We certainly need a far more efficient complaints resolution scheme. It
is not known generally that there is a system by which to complain."�
Senator McLucas also said it was a concern that 90% of complaints about
the claims made by manufacturers were upheld.