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Advisory Committee on Complementary Medicines (ACCM)

16 May 2013

Role of ACCM

The Advisory Committee on Complementary Medicines (ACCM) was formed in January 2010 to advise and make recommendations to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on the inclusion, variation or retention of a complementary medicine in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

ACCM may also provide advice to the TGA on any other matters concerning complementary medicines, and any other matters referred to it by the TGA (whether or not related to a complementary medicine).

ACCM supersedes the Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee (CMEC) and has an increased focus on the advisory role within the regulatory framework of complementary medicines.

A major role for ACCM is to provide scientific and policy advice relating to controls on the supply and use of complementary medicines in Australia. The ACCM provides this advice with particular reference to the safety and quality of products and, where appropriate, efficacy relating to the claims made for products.

ACCM members

Chair

Professor Alan Bensoussan is the Director, Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney and Executive Director, National Institute of Complementary Medicine Australia. He has been in clinical practice for over 25 years and is an active researcher. Professor Bensoussan has been a lead investigator on many high quality clinical trials of Chinese medicine, resulting in numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. As such he brings methodological experience in clinical investigation of Chinese medicines, including chemical definitions of products, safety and efficacy assessments, contrasting diagnostic approaches and labelling of illness in traditional medicine. Professor Bensoussan provides expertise in the field of complementary medical practice.

Members

• Dr Lesley Braun is a research fellow in the Department of Surgery at the Monash University. Dr Braun is also a lecturer at the Monash University and at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. She has experience in the fields of nutrition, nutritional medicine, herbal medicine and complementary medicine practice. Dr Braun provides expertise in the field of pharmacology.
• Ms Jane Frawley is a research scholar in the Faculty of Health at the University of Technology Sydney and has experience in the fields of pharmacology, herbal medicine and nutritional medicine. Ms Frawley is also the chair of the Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists Education Standards committee. Ms Frawley provides expertise in the field of complementary medical practice (naturopathy and herbal medicine).
• Associate Professor John Edwards is a toxicologist and occupational hygienist with 30 years experience in the tertiary sector. His research interests span investigations of exposure to environmental chemicals, including pesticides, nanomaterials and illegal drug laboratories. He also examines the toxicity of foods and novel food products. He is Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning at the School of the Environment, Flinders University. Associate Professor Edwards provides expertise in the field of toxicology.
• Ms Patricia Greenway is a strategic planning consultant with extensive knowledge and experience relating to consumers within the health sphere. Ms Greenway is currently a member of Medicines Australia and the Consumer Health Forum of Australia. Ms Greenway provides expertise on consumer issues.
• Ms Karen Martin is a Naturopathic Practitioner and Director at the Well2 in Adelaide. Ms Martin provides experience in the fields of herbal medicine, complementary medicine practice and nutrition, and is a member of the Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association. Ms Martin provides expertise in the field of naturopathy.
• Associate Professor Marie Pirotta is a General Practitioner and National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellow in the Department of General practice at the University of Melbourne. Associate Professor Pirotta has experience in the field of complementary medicine research, and is the current Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners National Standing Committee - Research. Associate Professor Pirotta provides expertise in the field of general medical practice.
• Associate Professor Xianqin Qu is an Associate Professor of Medical and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Technology Sydney and has experience in clinical pharmacology. Associate Professor Qu provides expertise in the field of complementary medical practice (traditional Chinese medicines).
• Dr Simon Spedding is a Medical Practitioner and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Australia, and has over 20 years of clinical practice as an Exercise and Sports Physician. Dr Spedding has experience in the fields of general medicine, sport and exercise medicine, evidence based medicine and nutrition. Dr Spedding provides expertise in the field of epidemiology.
• Associate Professor Peter Williams is a Visiting Principal Fellow at the Smart Foods Centre at the University of Wollongong and Honorary Associate Professor at the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University. Associate Professor Williams provides expertise in the fields of nutrition and nutritional medicine.
• Dr Hans Wohlmuth is a Senior Research Fellow, Southern Cross Plant Science and Curator, Medicinal Plant Herbarium at the Southern Cross University. Dr Wohlmuth has experience in the fields of herbal medicine and naturopathy, and established the Medicinal Plant Herbarium at the Southern Cross University. Dr Wohlmuth provides expertise in the field of pharmacognosy.

ACCM meeting dates

ACCM meetings 2013

Meeting date	Venue
1 March 2013	Canberra
14 June 2013	Melbourne (cancelled)
2 August 2013	Melbourne
6 September 2013	Canberra (cancelled)
6 December 2013	Sydney

Contacting ACCM

To contact the ACCM Secretariat:

Email	accm@tga.gov.au
Phone	+61 2 6232 8734
Fax	+61 2 6203 1250
Postal address	Advisory Committee on Complementary Medicines Therapeutic Goods Administration PO Box 100 (MDP 122) Woden ACT 2606 Australia

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