Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEC)
The Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEC) provides independent scientific and policy advice on OTC medicines to the Minister and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
MEC meetings
MEC background
The Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEC) provides independent scientific and policy advice on OTC medicines to the Minister and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The MEC became a Statutory Committee as a result of amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations commencing 31 March 2000. Committee members were appointed in April 2000 by Senator the Hon Grant Tambling, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Aged Care.
The MEC has a long history in medicines regulation dating back to 1948 which makes it quite possibly the longest established medicines evaluation committee in the world. While the committee's origins and heritage are based in Victoria, the current MEC is a national committee with membership drawn from Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
MEC membership
The committee is made up of between eight and twelve members who together have expertise in general medicine practice, specialist medicine practice including geriatric and paediatric medicine, clinical pharmacology and clinical toxicology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, microbiology, community pharmacy, medicine manufacture, government regulation and consumer representation. For further details on the constitution of the MEC refer to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations.
Chair
Professor David Story
Members
- Mrs Mary Emanuel
- Mrs Debra Petrys
- Professor Joan Faoagali
- Associate Professor John Gullotta, AM
- Associate Professor Henry Kilham
- Mr David Newgreen
- Professor Barry Reed
- Professor Michael Roberts
- Mr George Rook
- Professor Andrew Somogyi
Role of MEC
The functions of the Medicines Evaluation Committee are to evaluate and report to the Minister and the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing through the Therapeutic Goods Administration on:
- The safety, effectiveness and quality of any OTC medicine or ingredient within an OTC medicine referred for consideration including:
- OTC medicines which are included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)
- OTC medicines for which an application for inclusion in the ARTG has been received
- The safety of ingredients included or to be included in OTC medicines and certain ingredients included in listed medicines (eg. excipients in sunscreen products)
- Therapeutic goods being considered for inclusion in Part 3 of Schedule 10 to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations
- Therapeutic goods specified by the Minister or the Secretary
The MEC also provides advice to the Secretary:
- As to whether an ingredient, or a kind of ingredient should be included in Schedule 4 to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations
- On policy, guidelines or standards relating to OTC medicines
- On any matters relating to the role and functions of the committee.
MEC meeting dates 2010
| Meeting date | Evaluation reports finalised & sent to sponsors | Agenda finalised |
|---|---|---|
| 25 February 2010 | 25 January 2010 | 11 February 2010 |
| 6 May 2010 | 6 April 2010 | 22 April 2010 |
| 15 July 2010 | 15 June 2010 | 1 July 2010 |
| 23 September 2010 | 24 August 2010 | 9 September 2010 |
| 25 November 2010 | 26 October 2010 | 11 November 2010 |
Additional information
For more information on the functions of the committee or on the constitution of the committee, including appointment of members, terms of appointment, resignation of members, disclosure of interests, termination of appointment and leave of absence, or committee procedures, please refer to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations. You may also wish to contact the MEC Secretariat for further information.
MEC secretariat
Secretariat services are provided by the OTC Medicines Section of the TGA. The contact details for the MEC Secretariat are:
Phone: 02 6232 8652
Fax: 02 6232 8659
Postal address:
MEC Secretariat
Office of Non Prescription Medicines
Therapeutic Goods Administration
PO Box 100
Woden ACT 2606
Delivery address:
Therapeutic Goods Administration
136 Narrabundah Lane
Symonston ACT 2609
Secretary:
Dr Mayada Kayali (A/g Secretary)
Phone: 02 6232 8646
Fax: 02 6232 8659
Email: mayada.kayali@tga.gov.au