Blog - Healthcare Product Specialists

BLOG.

We share our insights and tips, break down product development and regulatory complexity, and share the latest news all in one place.

Product Development

01 Jan 2024

So you want to start a supplement brand?

As we ring in a fresh new year, we tend to brace ourselves for the onslaught of new brand and product briefs that will be sent our way. It’s an exciting time for us, as we are introduced to concepts that have been incubating in…

Rhiona Robertson

Education, Regulatory affairs

26 Sep 2023

The transition period is about to end for Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods.

A Formulated Supplementary Sports Food (FSSF) is a category of food product, legislated under the Food Standards Code. The Code is developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and enforced by state and territory food regulatory bodies. The technical definition of a FSSF is a…

Emlyn Simmie

Education, Regulatory affairs

07 Nov 2022

Navigating the fine line between foods and medicines

The concept of food as medicine is deeply rooted in historical and cultural practices. Food and medicine have long been interwoven, but in a world of legal, commercial and social responsibility, it is crucial to delineate the two. [1] The food-medicine interface is the boundary…

Dimity Chisholm

Education, Product Development

31 Oct 2022

Herbal medicines: Your guide to herbal extracts.

Working with herbal medicines can be a quagmire of unique terms and acronyms that can quickly become overwhelming and confusing without a solid understanding of their meanings. We've created an exceptional resource to help you decipher these terms, so that you can use these important…

Simone Abaron

Education, Regulatory affairs

24 Oct 2022

Is there such a thing as a “dietary supplement” in Australia?

In Australia there is no 'Dietary Supplements' category. Products marketed in other regions as ‘Dietary Supplements’ are regulated in Australia either as Foods (under Food Standards Australia New Zealand/ FSANZ) or Medicines (regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration/ TGA). Foods are further broken down into…

Rhiona Robertson

Education, Regulatory affairs

17 Oct 2022

Australia’s Regulatory Landscape 101

At Healthcare Product Specialists, we live and breathe the beautiful, and sometimes rocky landscape that is our rugged Australian regulations. Staying up to date, navigating, and working within these often complex frameworks keeps us engaged and motivated, so who better to show you the scenery…

Jessica Palmer

Education, Product Development

10 Oct 2022

Product development 101: Where to start?

If you’ve decided that you want to launch a product – be it a functional food product, cosmetic, complementary medicine/ dietary supplement – there are some key questions you need to ask yourself before you start. Here's a quick guide to building the product of…

Rhiona Robertson