Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEC)
The Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEC) provides independent scientific and policy advice on OTC medicines to the Minister and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
MEC meetings
Appointment of new members
Expressions of interest for: experience and expertise in the field of consumer representation
The TGA is seeking expressions of interest for a position on the Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEC). This position is for a person with experience and expertise in the field of consumer representation.
The MEC is a statutory committee established under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. MEC provides independent scientific and policy advice on over the counter medicines to the Minister and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The MEC has a wide range of expert and professional members.
The responsibilities of these positions are to provide relevant input and expertise to all MEC deliberations.
The MEC meets five to six times a year, one day per meeting. These meetings are held in alternate months during the year and all committee members are required to attend each meeting. Remuneration and travel is in accordance with the latest determination of the Remuneration Tribunal. Members are bound by committee-in-confidence obligations as well as obligations to declare all potential conflicts of interest.
For further enquiries contact Mr Karl Skewes on 02 6232 8014.
Expressions of interest should include:
- Statement of claims
- Curriculum vitae
- two referees (nominate referees or provide two references), and
- Phone, email and postal contact details
Expressions of interest should be sent to:
The Secretary
Medicines Evaluation Committee
CCDPGE5
PO Box 100
WODEN ACT 2601
These can be sent as hardcopy to the above address, by email to otc.medicines@tga.gov.au or by fax to 02 6232 8659.
Information provided by applicants in their expressions of interest may also be put forward for other TGA expert committees. If you do not wish this to occur, please clearly advise of this in your expression of interest.
MEC background
The Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEC) provides independent scientific and policy advice on OTC medicines to the Minister and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The MEC became a Statutory Committee as a result of amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations commencing 31 March 2000. Committee members were appointed in April 2000 by Senator the Hon Grant Tambling, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Aged Care.
The MEC has a long history in medicines regulation dating back to 1948 which makes it quite possibly the longest established medicines evaluation committee in the world. While the committee's origins and heritage are based in Victoria, the current MEC is a national committee with membership drawn from Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
MEC membership
The committee is made up of between eight and twelve members who together have expertise in general medicine practice, specialist medicine practice including geriatric and paediatric medicine, clinical pharmacology and clinical toxicology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, microbiology, community pharmacy, medicine manufacture, government regulation and consumer representation. For further details on the constitution of the MEC refer to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations.
Chair
Professor David Story
Members
- Dr Christopher Beer
- Mrs Mary Emanuel
- Professor Joan Faoagali
- Associate Professor John Gullotta, AM
- Associate Professor Henry Kilham
- Mr David Newgreen
- Professor Barry Reed
- Professor Michael Roberts
- Mr George Rook
- Professor Andrew Somogyi
Role of MEC
The functions of the Medicines Evaluation Committee are to evaluate and report to the Minister and the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing through the Therapeutic Goods Administration on:
- The safety, effectiveness and quality of any OTC medicine or ingredient within an OTC medicine referred for consideration including:
- OTC medicines which are included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)
- OTC medicines for which an application for inclusion in the ARTG has been received
- The safety of ingredients included or to be included in OTC medicines and certain ingredients included in listed medicines (eg. excipients in sunscreen products)
- Therapeutic goods being considered for inclusion in Part 3 of Schedule 10 to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations
- Therapeutic goods specified by the Minister or the Secretary
The MEC also provides advice to the Secretary:
- As to whether an ingredient, or a kind of ingredient should be included in Schedule 4 to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations
- On policy, guidelines or standards relating to OTC medicines
- On any matters relating to the role and functions of the committee.
MEC meeting dates
| Meeting date | Evaluation reports finalised & sent to sponsors | Agenda finalised |
|---|---|---|
| 7 February 2008 | 7 January 2008 | 22 January 2008 |
| 3 April 2008 | 3 March 2008 | 18 March 2008 |
| 5 June 2008 | 5 May 2008 | 20 May 2008 |
| 7 August 2008 | 7 July 2008 | 22 July 2008 |
| 2 October 2008 | 1 September 2008 | 16 September 2008 |
| 4 December 2008 | 3 November 2008 | 18 November 2008 |
Additional information
For more information on the functions of the committee or on the constitution of the committee, including appointment of members, terms of appointment, resignation of members, disclosure of interests, termination of appointment and leave of absence, or committee procedures, please refer to the Therapeutic Goods Regulations. You may also wish to contact the MEC Secretariat for further information.
MEC secretariat
Secretariat services are provided by the OTC Medicines Section of the TGA. The contact details for the MEC Secretariat are:
Phone: 02 6232 8652
Fax: 02 6232 8659
Postal address:
MEC Secretariat
Office of Non Prescription Medicines
Therapeutic Goods Administration
PO Box 100
Woden ACT 2606
Delivery address:
Therapeutic Goods Administration
136 Narrabundah Lane
Symonston ACT 2609
Secretary:
Dr Peter Bird
Phone: 02 6232 8670
Fax: 02 6232 8659
Email: peter.bird@tga.gov.au