what the #, page-15

Text of AAp reports I referred to - as several people have stated these guys are in BIG trouble

_______________________________________________ED: TGA suspends licence of herbal pharmaceutical company



SYDNEY, April 28 AAP - Australia's largest contract manufacturer

of complementary pharmaceuticals has had its licence suspended

following a series of safety and quality breaches.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) also ordered the

urgent recall of 219 products manufactured and supplied in

Australia by Pan Pharmaceuticals Limited of Sydney.

In a statement, the TGA said the breaches included substitution

of ingredients, manipulation of test results and substandard

manufacturing processes.

Pan Pharmaceuticals is Australia's largest contract manufacturer

of complementary medicines such as herbal, vitamin and mineral and

nutritional supplements.

It also manufactures some over-the-counter medicines including

pain relievers and cold and flu preparations.

In January an anti-travel sickness tablet Travacalm manufactured

by Pan Pharmaceuticals for another company was recalled.

AAP jjs/mg/br


FED: People warned to avoid all herbal, medical preparations



SYDNEY, April 28 AAP - Australians were today warned to avoid

taking all herbal and vitamin preparations following the largest

recall of medicines in the nation's history.

Federal parliamentary secretary for health Trish Worth said

several thousand products may potentially be withdrawn following

the six-month suspension of Pan Pharmaceutical's licence.

Pan Pharmaceuticals, Australia's largest contract manufacturer

of complementary pharmaceuticals, has had its licence suspended

following a series of safety and quality breaches.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) also ordered the

urgent recall of 219 products manufactured and supplied in

Australia by the company.

In a statement, the TGA said the breaches included substitution

of ingredients, manipulation of test results and substandard

manufacturing processes.

The TGA's principal medical adviser Dr John McEwen said "people

... should avoid taking complementary or vitamin products" until

more information became available over the next few days.

Pan Pharmaceuticals represents 70 per cent of the Australian

complementary pharmaceutical market and is the largest manufacturer

of medicines such as herbal, vitamin, mineral and nutritional

supplements.

It also manufactures some over-the-counter medicines including

pain relievers and cold and flu preparations.

In January, an anti-travel sickness tablet Travacalm made by Pan

Pharmaceuticals for another company was recalled.

Forty batches of the tablets were responsible for 19 people

being hospitalised and 68 others experienced potentially

life-threatening adverse reactions.

AAP jjs/ld/br