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Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee (CMEC)

The Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee (CMEC) provides scientific and policy advice relating to controls on the supply and use of complementary medicines. The CMEC provides this advice with particular reference to the safety and quality of products and, where appropriate, efficacy relating to the claims made for products.

CMEC meetings

Appointment of a new member

Expressions of interest for: experience and expertise in the field of consumer representation

The TGA is seeking expressions of interest for a position on the Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee (CMEC) for a person with experience and expertise in the field of consumer representation.

The CMEC is a Statutory Committee established under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. CMEC provides independent scientific and policy advice on complementary medicine ingredients and products to the Minister and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, through the TGA. CMEC members have been nominated by the Minister based on their expertise in a specific scientific and/or professional field, and are expected to provide relevant input to all CMEC deliberations.

The CMEC meets five times a year, for one or two days per meeting. These meetings are typically held in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, and all Committee members are required to attend each meeting. Compensation and travel/accommodation allowances are in accordance with the latest determination of the Remuneration Tribunal. Members are bound by 'committee-in-confidence' obligations as well as obligations to declare all real and potential conflicts of interest.

Consumer representatives must be capable of reflecting the viewpoints and concerns of consumers; and be persons in whom consumers and consumer organisations have confidence. Nominees should demonstrate: expertise in consumer affairs; links to relevant consumer organisations; capacity and willingness to consult with relevant consumer organisations; and knowledge of, or the ability to acquire knowledge of, the area/industry/issues involved in the appointment and the ability to work in a collaborative forum.

For further enquiries please contact Michael Smith on 02 6232 8439.

Expressions of interest should include:

  • Statement of claims;
  • Curriculum vitae;
  • Two referees (nominate referees or provide two references); and
  • Phone, email and postal contact details

Expressions of interest should be sent by mail to:

The Secretary
Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee
PO Box 100
WODEN ACT 2601

These can also be faxed to 02 6232 8913 or sent as an electronic document attachment via email to

Expressions of interest must be received by COB 27 June 2009.

Information provided by applicants in their expressions of interest may also be put forward for other TGA expert committees. If you do not wish this to occur, please clearly advise of this in your expression of interest.

CMEC members

Chair

Professor Tony Smith

Members

Expert Advisory Panel

Secretary

  • Michael Smith

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Functions of CMEC

Extract from the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990.

42ZE Committee's evaluating function

  1. The Committee may evaluate, and report to the Minister or Secretary about any of the following:
    1. a complementary medicine;
    2. an ingredient in a complementary medicine;
    3. a kind of ingredient in a complementary medicine;
    4. a therapeutic good specified by the Minister or the Secretary for this regulation.
  2. The matters to be included in a report include a recommendation about the following, as applicable:
    1. whether or not a complementary medicine should remain in the Register;
    2. whether or not a complementary medicine should be included in the Register;
    3. whether or not an ingredient or kind of ingredient should be included in Schedule 14, or mentioned in Schedule 4 as the therapeutically active ingredient in a preparation mentioned in item 3 of Part 1 of that Schedule.

42ZF Committee may give advice to Minister or Secretary

  1. The Committee may, in relation to a thing mentioned in subregulation 42ZE (1), give the Minister or Secretary scientific and policy advice about the following matters, as applicable:
    1. the import or export of the complementary medicine, ingredient, kind of ingredient or therapeutic good;
    2. registration or listing of the complementary medicine, ingredient, kind of ingredient or therapeutic good;
    3. the manufacture, supply and use of the complementary medicine, ingredient, kind of ingredient or therapeutic good.
    Note For the definition of supply, see subsection 3 (1) of the Act.
  2. An advice given about a thing mentioned in subregulation (1) may include, as applicable:
    1. the Committee's opinion about its safety; and
    2. an assessment of short-term and long-term risks and claimed benefits of its use; and
    3. the Committee's opinion about its quality; and
    4. the Committee's opinion about its efficacy; and
    5. if the advice is about a therapeutic good - the Committee's opinion about the indications of the good; and
    6. if the advice is about a therapeutic good in relation to which a claim has been made to which subsection 28 (6) of the Act applies, the advice may also include:
      1. the Committee's opinion about the claim; and
      2. the Committee's opinion about the amount, standard or type of information or evidence used to support a claim.
    Note For the definition of indications, see subsection 3 (1) of the Act.

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CMEC meeting dates

CMEC Meeting Number Meeting Date
70 5 December 2008
71 5-6 March 2009
72 22 May 2009
73 24 July 2009
74 2 October 2009
75 4 December 2009

CMEC contact details

Postal address:

Therapeutic Goods Administration
Department of Health and Ageing
PO Box 100, Woden ACT 2606

Telephone: 02 6232 8439

Fax: 02 6232 8577

Email:

CMEC scientific reports

How to access a pdf document

Honey - scientific report (December 1998) (pdf,72kb)
An evaluation of the safety of honey for use in listable medicines

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