CMEC 20th meeting, 26 May 2000
Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee
Extracted ratified minutes
CMEC Meeting 20 extracted ratified minutes (pdf,32kb)
Public recommendation summary
Item 3 Report of the Working Party on Substantiation of Claims
Recommendation 20.1
CMEC endorses the work in progress on the amended document Guidelines for levels and kinds of evidence to support claims for therapeutic goods.
Item 5.1.2 St John's Wort
Recommendation 20.2
CMEC notes the reports of demonstrated interaction of St John's Wort with certain prescription medicines used to treat serious conditions, the theoretical potential for interaction with a broad range of other prescription medicines, and the actions of overseas regulatory bodies on this matter. It recommends to the TGA that the labels of all products containing St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), where these products are indicated for oral use, should carry the following label advice:
"St John's Wort affects the way some prescription medicines work. Consult your doctor."
Item 5.3.1 Fish oils
Recommendation 20.3
CMEC recommends to the TGA that the Therapeutic Goods Regulations be amended to remove the existing requirement for fish oils to be used as active ingredients in listable therapeutic goods only when acting as a source of vitamins or omega 3 marine triglycerides, so that fish oils are permitted to be used as active ingredients in listable therapeutic goods, without specific restriction.