Regulation of Complementary Medicines—The Australian Experience

Abstract

This paper highlights the Australian experience with the regulation of complementary medicines. Recent changes have delivered a new legitimacy to the complementary health care industry—a recognition of its role as a legitimate part of the health care arrangements in Australia. This paper covers: the regulatory environment, the relevant parts of our Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, the definition of a therapeutic good in Australia, the role of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the regulatory arrangements for complementary medicines, and reform measures we have introduced for complementary medicines.