• The TGA is the national regulator for therapeutic products in Australia and is responsible for the regulation of medicines, medical devices, blood and blood products. Human breast milk and banked human breast milk do not fall within the definition of a therapeutic good (section 3 of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989) and, therefore, fall outside the scope of the TGA’s activities.
• Human breast milk is a food and therefore regulated under the food regulatory framework, which is oversighted at a federal level by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.(FSANZ).
• Government enquiry launched into breastfeeding and milkbanking.  Enquiry open until Feb 28th
• Standing Committee on Health and Ageing Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. Inquiry into the health benefits of breastfeeding.  Read the Submission Compiled By Mothers Milk Bank mothers milk bank submission here
• House Of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing Reference: Health Benefits of Breastfeeding Wednesday, 18 April 2007 Queensland visit to the Mothers Milk Bank
• August 07Report tabled in parliament. The report is now with Tony Abbott. Federal Minister for Health

  “The health and economic benefits of breastfeeding Recommendation 8 “That the Department of Health and Ageing fund a feasibility study for a network of milk banks in Australia including the development of a national regulatory and quality framework within which a network of milk banks in Australia could operate. The feasibility study should include funding pilot programs at the Mothers Milk Bank at the John Flynn Private Hospital, Gold Coast and the King Edward Memorial Hospital milk bank in Perth.”

  The full report can be viewed here

The Federal Government Senate inquiry has recognized the value of supporting the mothers’ milk bank as a pilot project and recommended the mothersmilkbank receive health care dollar funding.

• July 07 The National Health and Medical Research Council have accepted the mothers milk bank request to review draft national milk banking guidelines submitted to the council.

• The mothers milk banking model will be developed further to include community based milk banks, as well as hospital based milk banks.

• The Australian mothers milk banking association will be launched in 2008

• The mothersmilkbank Information DVD to be released.

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