This TGA behind-the-news article was published on 27 June 2013. Behind-the-news articles are published in response to issues that are of interest to the community at a point in time, for example, subjects that have been in the media.

Different types of medicines are regulated in different ways by the TGA, depending on what they contain and how they are to be used. The level of regulatory scrutiny increases with the level of risk the medicine can pose to consumers. This approach allows resources to be targeted effectively.

The TGA classifies low risk medicines as listed medicines. You can find out more about how they are regulated in our brochure: Listed medicines: The role of Australia's medicines regulator.