PATENT MEDICINES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 137, 4 March 1908, Page 7

PATENT MEDICINES.

MODIFICATIONS,WANTED. BY TBIjECBAPII— TIIEBS ASSOCIATION—COrYIiIOITI. ( , Adelaide, March 1 3. ' Representatives from tho London Chamber of Commerce have arrived to interview the Fedoral Government with a, view to . obtaining modifications of . the Bill dealing with patent; medicines. ■ ' ■ 1 • ! ■ . y TRADE SECRETS. Tho; bill to" am'end the Australian 1 Commerce: Act so that tho contents of-parent 1 medicines' will be stated on the bottles! was read the first timo in tho Houso ; of Representatives iri November last. Under tho existing law, regula-; tions cannot bo. framed prescribing the trade description of medicines,'and medicinal preparations where trade secrets, are invoked> unless in the.'opinion of the Governoi'rGeneral the disclosure is necessary for the health and . welfare bf the public.. : Under .the new "Bill, power 1 is.-igiven to ■ mnko:: ,a general regulation ;, requiring the trade description, : including, .the disclosure of .-ingredeints for all medicines ' or'' 'medicinal v'preparfttions for internal or external : use, or ! articles intended. . for .food . "for. .-'.infants- or,, in-: valids, but in individual cases if tho 'Governor--General is satisfied'' that it would ; mean the disclosure of, : trade secrets,, and it is not necessary for the welfare or health of the public, ho may allow a modified description to bo used. In addition to tho trade description lie may demand in case of medicines or medicinal preparations a statement of the nature of the ailments of diseases ■ they are intended to alleviate or cure. The Bill practically means that importers of patent medicines or.infants' and invalids! foods must show that trade secrets "will he disclosed if thoy. wish to obtain exemption from giving a full statement of the contents of bottles or packets.-