ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a general overview of some of the provisions likely to be relevant to complementary medicine practitioners. It deals with the provisions of the national Australian Consumer Law, which may impact upon the enforceability of consumer contracts entered into by complementary medicine practitioners where the terms of that contract could be seen as unfair. The object of the Therapeutic Goods Act (TGA) is to create a national scheme consisting of controls provided by the TGA and complementary state legislation. A national scheme is necessary because, under the federal Constitution, the Commonwealth has a limited ability to pass laws on therapeutic goods. An Advisory Committee on Complementary Medicines evaluates and reports on the registration or listing of complementary medicines. Many complementary medicine practitioners sell goods such as homoeopathic remedies, herbal mixtures or herbs, vitamins, massage oils and equipment.
