The Federal Government ha hailed progress towards a joint Australia New Zealand therapeutic products regulatory scheme following the second meeting of the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency (ANZTPA) Implementation Ministerial Council.

 

Chaired by New Zealand Health Minister, Tony Ryall, the meeting discussed progress to date on key elements that would see the establishment of a joint Trans-Tasman therapeutic products scheme and regulator.  

 

ANZTPA will be a joint, trans-Tasman scheme and agency with responsibility for regulating therapeutic products across both countries. When established, it will replace Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe).

 

Ministers noted that work has progressed on the other Business to Business projects approved at the January 2012 meeting. Within the current financial year the TGA and Medsafe will deliver:

  • a common recalls portal for therapeutic products.
  • a common early warning system to inform the public of potential safety issues concerning therapeutic products.
  • a common streamlined, but rigorous process to evaluate and assess the safety, quality and efficacy of over the counter medicines. This has been aided by workshops already held in Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington and the release of a consultation paper in September 2012.
  • an integrated capability to conduct audits to assess good manufacturing practice (GMP). To this end, in early 2013, both organisations will commence sharing of GMP reports.