Nick Xenophon calls for urgent investigation into imports of illegal Kamini tablets

Senator Nick Xenophon says the availability of tablets containing illegal opiates, Kamini, as well as foods breaching Australian standards, is a failure of Australia's regulatory framework.

South Australia independent senator Nick Xenophon has called for an urgent investigation into the importation of Kamini tablets into Australia, calling it a "massive failure of regulatory framework."

“This is something that warrants an urgent investigation by the therapeutic goods administration. The fact that these are sold in this country with dubious claims and they contain opioids in them is concerning. Clearly, there’s been a massive failure of the regulatory framework and this must be addressed," Senator Xenophon tells SBS Radio.

He says the Australian Border Force, the Australian Federal Police and the TGA need to be asked questions as to what they have or have not done.

“If only the border force as snappy in their actions as they were with their uniforms may be we will get some real action on this. Buck passing from one agency to another just doesn’t cut it. The fact is these substances should not be allowed into the country. There seems to have been a massive failure at a number of levels," he says.

Kamini tablets Source: SBS Punjabi

An investigation by SBS Punjabi revealed how ‘Kamini’ tablets, which are sold an Indian herbal therapy but were found to contain opiates, were readily available for purchase in grocery stores across Australia.

The investigation also revealed how imported food products that did not meet Australian standards were selling in Australian supermarkets.

Victoria’s Department of Human Health Services told SBS Punjabi that subsequent testing of a rice sample confirmed the findings of the previous testing commissioned by SBS.

“The department understands that in response to these laboratory results, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has initiated action at the border through an increased inspection and testing regime of Kohinoor brand rice," a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement to SBS. 

"This applies to all importers of this product in Australia, including a Melbourne-based importer."

Senator Xenophon says that allowing foods that breach Australian standards is indicative of “systemic problems” with our food imports standards.

“We allow stuff into this country that will be unacceptable if an Australian food producer was manufacturing food like this," says Xenophon. "And yet this stuff is allowed into the country."

"And not only does it pose serious questions about our biosecurity, about our food standards but it is also unfair to the Australian farmers and Australian food manufacturers who do that right thing."