5 years ago
RECALL OF CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE COUGH PILL
TONY ZAPPIA MP
Reports in the Australian yesterday that an urgent recall action was taken in relation to two batches of Bronchi-cough Pills, due to contaminants found by Therapeutic Goods Administration testing, is highly concerning.
The TGA’s tests found that both batches were contaminated with low levels of amygdalin. One of these batches was also contaminated with aristolochic acid. Both substances are considered to pose an unacceptable risk to human health.
The Minister needs to explain what prompted the TGA testing and what actions are being taken to ensure that the cause of the contamination in these products is an isolated issue.
Furthermore Minister Hunt must clarify whether there were any issues identified when the manufacturer obtained its Good Manufacturing Practice clearance, were site inspections carried out at the time, if so when and were any ongoing concerns identified and followed up.
Australian consumers need to be confident that their medicines are safe.
The TGA’s tests found that both batches were contaminated with low levels of amygdalin. One of these batches was also contaminated with aristolochic acid. Both substances are considered to pose an unacceptable risk to human health.
The Minister needs to explain what prompted the TGA testing and what actions are being taken to ensure that the cause of the contamination in these products is an isolated issue.
Furthermore Minister Hunt must clarify whether there were any issues identified when the manufacturer obtained its Good Manufacturing Practice clearance, were site inspections carried out at the time, if so when and were any ongoing concerns identified and followed up.
Australian consumers need to be confident that their medicines are safe.