Healthy Skepticism Library item: 13671

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Harvey slams Blackmores
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2008 May 16
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

LA TROBE University academic Dr Ken Harvey has used the example of Blackmores ‘Weight-Loss Accelerate’ supplement to highlight what he says are clear deficiencies in the regulation of complementary medicines.

Speaking today at the National Medicines Symposium in Canberra Harvey said Blackmores ignored several determinations by the Complaint Resolution Panel (CRP) which administers the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code.

He cited complaints which were submitted in 2006, 2007 and 2008 with the CRP subsequently requesting that advertisements and representations relating to hydroxycritic acid and weight loss be publicly retracted.

Blackmores only updated its promotional website this month to add a ‘Complaints Resolution Panel Retraction Statement’, with Harvey saying that “in short, after 5 complaints over several years, Blackmores finally made a minimal, token and legalistic gesture to comply with an earlier CRP determination.

“In my opinion, their promotion remains misleading and unethical and this case demonstrates the regulator’s impotence,” he said.

Harvey is backing a CHOICE proposal which would see complementary medicines independently evaluated on an opt-in cost-recovery basis.

Under the scheme, efficacioius products ethically promoted would be awarded a Trade Mark of approval – similar to the Heart Foundation’s ‘Red Tick’.

“This self-sustaining project will assist consumer choice and provide a market advantage for the sponsors of evidence-based complementary medicines.”