Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

THERAPEUTIC GOODS AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2000 (NO. 1) 2000 NO. 29 - SCHEDULE 2

(subregulation 3 (2))

Part 1 Amendments

[1] Regulation 2, after definition of orphan drug

insert

"OTC medicine" means therapeutic goods mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 10.

[2] Paragraph 42ZE (1) (d)

substitute

(d)

therapeutic goods referred to the Committee, by the Minister or the Secretary, for this regulation.

[3] Paragraph 42ZF (2) (f)

omit

applies, the advice may also include:

insert

applies:

[4] Subregulation 42ZQ (1)

omit

at a meeting of the Committee.

insert

at, or before, the meeting of the Committee.

[5] Subregulation 42ZQ (3)

substitute

(3)

When the Committee is making a determination under subregulation (2) about a member who has made a disclosure, the member, and any other member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the matter to which the disclosure relates, must not:

(a)

be present during any deliberation of the Committee; or

(b)

take part in making the determination.

(4)

A member of a sub-committee under regulation 42ZG, who is aware that he or she has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter being considered, or about to be considered, at a meeting of the sub-committee must, without delay, disclose the nature of the interest at, or before, the meeting of the sub-committee.

[6] Regulation 42ZX

omit

if

insert

when at least

[7] Part 6, after Division 4

insert

Subdivision 1 Interpretation

In this Division:

"Committee" means the Medicines Evaluation Committee established by subregulation 42ZZB (1).

"consultant physician" has the meaning given in section 3 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 .

"medical practitioner" has the meaning given in section 3 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 .

Subdivision 2 Establishment of Committee

(1)

A committee called the Medicines Evaluation Committee is established.

(2)

The Committee has the functions mentioned in Subdivision 3 of this Division.

(3)

The Committee must be constituted in accordance with Subdivision 4 of this Division.

(4)

The Committee must hold meetings, and make decisions, in accordance with Subdivision 5 of this Division.

Subdivision 3 Functions of Committee

(1)

The Committee may evaluate, and report to the Minister or Secretary about, any of the following:

(a)

an OTC medicine;

(b)

an ingredient in an OTC medicine;

(c)

a kind of ingredient in an OTC medicine;

(d)

therapeutic goods identified by the Committee;

(e)

therapeutic goods referred to the Committee, by the Minister or the Secretary, for this regulation.

Example
Examples of OTC medicines that the Committee may evaluate, and report about, include:
* OTC medicines that are included in the Register
* OTC medicines for which an application for inclusion in the Register has been made.

(2)

The matters to be included in a report for subregulation (1) include, if appropriate, a recommendation about whether or not a particular kind of therapeutic goods should be included in the part of the Register for listed goods.

(1)

The Committee may, in relation to a thing mentioned in subregulation 42ZZC (1), give to the Minister or Secretary scientific and policy advice about the following matters, as applicable:

(a)

the import or export of the OTC medicine, ingredient, kind of ingredient or kind of therapeutic goods;

(b)

registration or listing of the OTC medicine, ingredient, kind of ingredient or kind of therapeutic goods;

(c)

the manufacture, supply and use of the OTC medicine, ingredient, kind of ingredient or kind of therapeutic goods.

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:

(a)

the Committee's opinion about its safety; and

(b)

an assessment of short-term and long-term risks and claimed benefits of its use; and

(c)

the Committee's opinion about its quality; and

(d)

the Committee's opinion about its efficacy; and

(e)

if the advice is about therapeutic goods — the Committee's opinion about the indications of the therapeutic goods; and

(f)

if the advice is about therapeutic goods in relation to which a claim has been made to which subsection 28 (6) of the Act applies:

(i)

the Committee's opinion about the claim; and

(ii)

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.

(1)

The Committee may appoint sub-committees, consisting of members of the Committee and other persons.

(2)

The function of a sub-committee is to inquire into, and report to the Committee on, any matter that is within the functions of the Committee.

(1)

If the Committee gives advice, under this Division, to the Minister or the Secretary, the Minister or the Secretary may give a copy of that advice to another committee established under the Act.

(2)

A Committee to which a copy of an advice is given may make comments to the Minister or the Secretary about that advice.

Example
Examples of Committees to which the Minister or Secretary may give a copy of advice include:
* the Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee
* the National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee
* a committee established under Division 1 of this Part.

The Committee may, in performing its functions under this Division, seek advice from other persons.

Subdivision 4 Constitution of Committee

The Committee is constituted in accordance with this Subdivision.

(1)

The Minister must appoint members of the Committee in accordance with this regulation.

(2)

An appointment of a member must be in writing.

(3)

The Committee must include at least 8, but no more than 12, members.

In deciding whether to appoint a person to be a member of the Committee, the Minister must take into account the person's expertise and experience in the following fields:

(a)

general medical practice;

(b)

specialist medical practice of a kind relevant to the Committee's functions;

(c)

pharmaceutical chemistry;

(d)

pharmacology;

(e)

toxicology;

(f)

microbiology;

(g)

community pharmacy;

(h)

manufacture of medicines;

(i)

government regulation.

Example
For paragraph (b), the Minister would need to take into account candidates' expertise and experience in medical specialties, including paediatric and geriatric medicine.

The Minister must, in writing, appoint a member of the Committee to be its Chair.

(1)

The Minister may nominate a person to give expert advice to the Committee to assist it in the performance of its functions.

(2)

If the Minister nominates a person under subregulation (1), the Committee may ask that person for advice about performing a function of the Committee.

(3)

The Committee may have no more than 8 such advisers.

(4)

Regulations 42ZZM, 42ZZN, 42ZZO and 42ZZP apply to a person nominated under this regulation as if he or she were a member of the Committee.

(1)

A Committee member is appointed for the term stated in the appointment.

(2)

The term stated in an appointment must not be greater than 3 years.

(3)

However, a Committee member may be reappointed for further terms of up to 3 years each.

(4)

The Chair of the Committee is appointed as Chair for the term stated in the Chair's appointment.

(5)

The Chair may be reappointed for further terms while he or she is a member of the Committee.

A Committee member may resign by signed notice of resignation given to the Minister.

(1)

A Committee member who is aware that he or she has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter being considered, or about to be considered, at a meeting of the Committee must, without delay, disclose the nature of the interest at, or before, the meeting of the Committee.

(2)

The disclosure must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting and the member must not, unless the Committee otherwise determines:

(a)

be present during any deliberation of the Committee about the matter; or

(b)

take part in any decision of the Committee about that matter.

(3)

When the Committee is making a determination under subregulation (2) about a member who has made a disclosure, the member, and any other member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the matter to which the disclosure relates, must not:

(a)

be present during any deliberation of the Committee; or

(b)

take part in making the determination.

(4)

A member of a sub-committee under regulation 42ZZE, who is aware that he or she has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter being considered, or about to be considered, at a meeting of the sub-committee must, without delay, disclose the nature of the interest at, or before, the meeting of the sub-committee.

(1)

The Minister may terminate a Committee member's appointment on the grounds of:

(a)

physical or mental incapacity; or

(b)

misbehaviour; or

(c)

incompetence; or

(d)

inefficiency; or

(e)

failing to comply, either recklessly or intentionally, with regulation 42ZZO.

(2)

The Minister must terminate the member's appointment if the member:

(a)

is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 1 year or longer; or

(b)

is absent without leave of absence from 3 consecutive meetings of the Committee.

(1)

The Minister may grant leave of absence to the Chair of the Committee.

(2)

The Chair may grant leave of absence to another Committee member.

Subdivision 5 Committee procedures

This Subdivision sets out the procedures that the Committee must follow in holding meetings.

(1)

In performing its functions, the Committee:

(a)

must act according to these Regulations; and

(b)

must act with as little formality and as quickly as the requirements of these Regulations, and a proper consideration of the issues before the Committee, allow; and

(c)

is not bound by rules of evidence; and

(d)

may obtain information about an issue in any way that it considers appropriate; and

(e)

may receive information or submissions orally or in writing.

(2)

In addition, the Committee must comply with any directions given, in writing, to the Committee by the Minister or the Secretary about the Committee's performance of its functions.

(1)

The Chair of the Committee may, by written notice to the Committee, direct the Committee to hold meetings at the times and places, and to deal with matters in the manner, stated in the notice.

(2)

Subject to these Regulations, the procedure of a Committee's meeting is as decided by the Committee.

(1)

The Chair of the Committee must:

(a)

preside at a Committee meeting; or

(b)

nominate, in writing, a member of the Committee to preside at the meeting.

(2)

If the Chair is temporarily absent from a meeting, the member chosen by the members present must preside.

At a Committee meeting, a quorum exists when at least half of the members are present.

(1)

A decision made at a Committee meeting by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting is a decision of the Committee.

(2)

The member presiding at a Committee meeting has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, also has a casting vote.

(1)

The Committee must keep a record of its proceedings.

(2)

The Committee must prepare any other report about its activities that is requested by the Minister or the Secretary.

[8] Schedule 10, Part 3, heading

substitute

Part 3 Evaluation by OTC Medicine Evaluation Section of the Department

Part 2 Additional amendments

[9] Table of additional amendments