robert-forbes.com.au - Robert Forbes and Associates - Regulatory and technical advice to suppliers and manufacturers of complementary medicines, dietary supplements, OTC medicines, cosmetics, personal care products and foods.

Foods

Calls for Warning Labels on Caffeinated Energy Drinks (16 January 2012).

A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia detailing a number of cases of poisoning that have led to hospital admission has led to calls for stricter regulation and warning statements on all caffeinated beverages. Over a period of 7 years in the State of NSW alone, there were 297 reported overdoses with 128 people needing hospitalisation. Symptoms included hallucinations, seizures, cardiac ischaemia, heart palpitations, agitation, tremors and gastrointestinal upset. 25 per cent of calls to the poisons hotline related to a combination of alcohol and energy drinks and another 30 per cent involved stimulants such as amphetamines. Red Bull and V accounted for around two-thirds of the reported cases.

Consumer Guide to Food Labelling Released (11 January 2012)

This gives information on the general labelling requirements for foods and is now available on the FSANZ website. The information applies both to food for retail sale and to food for catering purposes.

Application to have Low-THC Hemp Permitted in Foods (11 January 2012)

FSANZ is assessing an application for approval to use the seed and seed products of Cannabis sativa, with low levels of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as food. Currently any form of Cannabis is prohibited from being added to food or supplied as a food in both Australia and New Zealand. The applicant is Dr Andrew Katelaris, a medical doctor who has long been an advocate of medical use of cannabis.

OTC & Complementary Medicines

Hotline Established to Provide Information to Women Concerned about Breast Implants (11 January 2012)

The number 1800 217 257 is now available to concerned members of the public, and the TGA has released statements on their website clarifying their current position.

Compositional Guideline for “Natural Fish Oil” (11 January 2012)

The TGA has released a compositional guideline for the listed medicine ingredient “natural fish oil” and this can be viewed on the news section of www.tga.gov.au. The TGA also recognises two BP monographs for refined fish oil, namely “Fish Oil, Rich in Omega-3-Acids” and “Farmed Salmon Oil”, along with the monograph for reconfigured fish oil – “Omega-3-Marine Triglycerides”.

Comment Invited on New Zealand’s Proposed Natural Health Products Bill (11 January 2012)

The bill will replace the Dietary Supplements Regulation and aims to provide a legislative framework for “low-risk natural health products”. The bill is can be viewed on the New Zealand legislation website, and comments are due by 24^th February.

Cosmetic, personal care & household products

Warning notice – Keratin Complex Intense Rx (1 June 2011)

The government has issued a warning to consumers that Keratin Complex Intense Rx contains excessive levels of formaldehyde which can cause severe skin reactions and even cancer after exposure to chronic high exposure.

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