Chairman’s Introduction
Our industry has received a welcome level of
government support in recent months, with
the announcement of nearly $10 million in
public funding for complementary medicine
(CM) research.
Last November the Commonwealth Government
dedicated $5 million in funding through the
National Health and Medical Research Council
to add to the growing body of CM research.
This was followed by an additional $4 million
Federal contribution and $0.6 million of State
funding to establish a National Institute of
Complementary Medicine (NICM). The national
institute will be housed at the University of
Western Sydney but will draw together leading
researchers in this field across Australia, as well
as help to establish national research priorities
and consolidate key research initiatives and
outcomes.
The institute will help investigate the important
role of CM in the national healthcare system.
It will build on the quality, relevance and extent of
local research in order to improve consumer
choice, access to and understanding of
complementary medicine.
The announcement of the most recent funding
was made at the Blackmores Research Symposium,
a two-day conference in Sydney that attracted
over 160 delegates from Australia and abroad.
The symposium explored the topic: Solving the
21st Century Lifestyle Dilemma, and featured a
number of leading researchers from a variety of
Australian, British, and American universities,
research institutes and hospitals.
Researchers presented advances in the treatment
and prevention of ‘modern’ diseases in areas
such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and
mental health, and the integration of these new
strategies into clinical practice. Topics included
the role of coenzyme Q10 in blood pressure
management, omega-3 fatty acids with
depression, CM and the impact in Alzheimer’s
disease, vitamin E in cancer
treatment, and
vitamin D and iodine deficiencies and the health
of Australians.
Our continued focus on research is at long last
being shared by many others in government,
industry and the health profession and we are
currently planning future events.
It was recently announced that the establishment
of an Australia New Zealand Therapeutic
Products Authority (ANZTPA) will be postponed
until further notice after the legislation failed to
gain support in the New Zealand parliament.
Blackmores has consistently supported the
concept of harmonisation of the rules and
regulations that apply to the sale of
complementary medicines in New Zealand,
Australia and Asia — though we never believed
that simply imposing another version of the
current Australian system on our New Zealand
counterparts was appropriate.
Throughout the consultation process, the
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
encouraged much discussion and debate that
has affected our industry, in most part, for the
better. A number of issues were addressed as a
result of the consultation process, and these gains
will not be lost despite the harmonisation initiative
not proceeding at this time. The recommendations
have resulted in improved processes and potential
access to new ingredients for Australian industry
and the public.
There were also some frustrations throughout
the consultation period, including areas such as
advertising where we would have preferred a
different outcome, and a significant amount of
detail that industry never had full visibility over,
or was lacking.
We take heart in the assurances of the Parliamentary
Secretary for Health and Ageing, Senator Brett
Mason, that the work of the last few years will not
be wasted. Senator Mason is new to the role and
has shown interest in the commercial impact of
government regulations on our business.
In the attempt to create a joint agency many
millions of dollars have been spent on both sides
of the Tasman, and much good work has been
done both by industry and by the respective
regulators. We can only hope that a much
simpler, less costly regulatory system can
ultimately be created.
Our Board, executive team and staff have
worked hard throughout the year to maintain
the momentum and continue to raise the bar in
developing and marketing the best products we
can, continuing to serve our customers well and
running a seamless operation, and I’d like to take
this opportunity to thank them for yet another
record year for Blackmores.
Outlook
Consumer demand for natural health solutions
continues to grow, we are enjoying long-awaited
government investment in our industry and have
made significant inroads in creating a better
regulatory environment. Closer to home, we are
building an innovative new Blackmores Campus
and have a highly motivated and engaged team.
We have reason to be optimistic about the
coming year.
Marcus C. Blackmore AM
Executive Chairman
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