singapore tcm

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SINGAPORE MARKET AND

REGULATIONS

ANDREA ZANGARA


The Market

Traditional Chinese medicine products have experienced

a surge in popularity in recent years

Imports of Chinese medicine and related products, such

as health supplements, increased by 45%, between 2007

and 2009, from S$1.1 billion to S$1.6 billion

According to the Singapore Traditional Chinese Medicine

Organizations Committee, imports from China have

increased by 74% since 2007


Nearly Half of Singaporeans Consuming Vitamin/Dietary

Supplements - Two Thirds on a Daily Basis (Nielsen, 2009)


Main Reason for Consumption Globally is to Boost

Immune System (Nielsen, 2009)


The Health Sciences Authority

Responsible for the regulation of all health products,

including Complementary Medicines

The Complementary Health Products Branch oversees the

regulation of Chinese Proprietary Medicines, other

Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements


TCM Regulatory Framework

Health Science Authority's Chinese Proprietary

Medicines (CPM) Unit was set up in 1996 to

administer regulatory control on CPM , with the

following aims: To ensure that CPM sold in Singapore are safe and of

good quality

To ensure that CPM are labeled appropriately

To facilitate prompt withdrawal of CPM from the

market when necessary.

CPM importers, manufacturers, distributors and

sellers are required to list individual CPM ,

provide information during the submission, and

are only allowed to deal in approved products.


Definition of a CPM

“Chinese proprietary medicine” is any medicinal product

used in the system of therapeutics according to the

traditional Chinese method but shall not include:

any medicinal product to be injected into the human

body;

any item specified in the Poisons List in the Schedule

to the Poisons Act (Cap. 234); or

any medicinal product which contains as an active

substance any chemically defined isolated

constituents of plants, animals or minerals or a

combination of any one or more of them


Health Supplement Regulatory Framework

Currently, health supplements are not subjected to

pre-market approval and can be imported and sold

without a license from the HSA

Importers, manufacturers, distributors and sellers of

health supplements are advised to comply with the

guidelines for health supplements set out by the HSA

The onus of responsibility in ensuring the safety and

quality of health supplements, and compliance with

the guidelines for health supplements rests with the

dealer

singapore tcm

Health & Medicine