Imaginative omega 3 solutions: Incromega™ 3mulsion DHA
Croda Europe
The move has been welcomed by the New Zealand natural product industry, and is seen as eliminating a hurdle for New Zealand manufacturers of health supplements.
By falling inline with New Zealand levels, the Australian permitted levels of vitamin A will be raised to 10,000 International Units (IU), niacin will now be 100 mg, and selenium will be raised to 150 micrograms, up from 26 micrograms.
Ron Geiger, chair of Natural Products NZ, said that the move removed a major stumbling block for New Zealand manufacturers who previously had to reformulate to in order to comply with Australia's levels.
The news also highlights an important step closer to establishing a joint Australia-New Zealand agency agreement for health supplements.
"People need to understand that the joint agency will increase the type, quality and safety of ingredients available to both countries," said Geiger.
"The aim is to establish a platform that will increase the availability of tested and effective complementary medicines in both countries. Currently, there are over 16,000 complementary medicines listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, a considerable number of which are from New Zealand manufacturers who already meet the Australian requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice intended to be part of the joint agency agreement," he said.
In late 2003 the Australian and New Zealand governments signed an agreement for the joint regulation of therapeutic products, including complementary medicines, over-the-counter and prescription medicines, medical devices, blood and blood products and tissues and cellular therapies.
The agreement involves setting up the bi-national Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority (ANZTPA), which will be accountable to both governments and replace Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and New Zealand's Medsafe.
The plan has proved controversial since, although complementary therapies and supplements were previously bundled together with prescription drugs under the TGA's bailiwick, historically New Zealand has had a more lenient regulatory structure than its neighbour, meaning that many more products have been available on the market.