Mark Butler (Port Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill makes consequential amendments to the Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Act 1989 as a result of the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2009 Measures No. 3) Bill 2009 which I have just discussed.

This bill allows annual charges to be imposed for the continued inclusion of biologicals in the register. This is consistent with the inclusion of other therapeutic goods in the register.

It also provides that where a medicine or biological is temporarily suspended from the register under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 it can continue to be taken to be included in the register for the purpose of the Charges Act. This is because the medicine or biological is only temporarily suspended for part of the year and during the suspension the usual regulatory work necessary in relation to the good continues.

A similar provision is already in the Charges Act for medical devices. This amendment just makes consistent the treatment of all therapeutic goods that are suspended.

Debate (on motion by Dr Stone) adjourned.