The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has adopted Herbal Medicine: The Expanded Commission E Monographs as an approved text for monographs on botanical medicines. Other approved monograph resources include the European Scientific Co-operative on Phytotherapy Monographs on the Medicinal Uses of Plant Drugs and the World Health Organization Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, volume 1.

The TGA included these resources, among others, in its “Guidelines for Levels and Kinds of Evidence to Support Indications and Claims,” a document that was published in October 2001 to determine the appropriate evidence to support indications and claims made in relation to Listable medicines. In particular, they relate to complementary medicines, sunscreens and other Listable medicines.

Herbal Medicine, produced by the American Botanical Council in 2000, evolved from the ABC translation of The Complete German Commission E Monographs, and focuses on the most-used botanical medicines and includes references and usage context.

[Available online at www.health.gov.au/hfs/tga accessed 2002 Apr 17.]