Some additional requirements apply to advertising particular types of therapeutic goods.

On this page: Prescription-only and pharmacist-only medicines | Complementary medicines | Vitamins and minerals | Weight management products | Sunscreens

Prescription-only and pharmacist-only medicines

Price lists of prescription-only and pharmacist-only medicines can be made available to the public under certain conditions.

This price information can only be produced and distributed by retail pharmacists or their agents, pharmacy marketing groups, and dispensing doctors. Other medical practitioners and health professionals cannot provide price information to the public.

Medicines must be listed in alphabetical order by name, or by the names of active ingredients.

Price information must not present or describe a medicine in a way that directs consumers to a particular medicine over and above any other medicine, whether or not that particular medicine is also referred to in the price information.

For details refer to Section 7 and Schedule 4 of the Code.

Complementary medicines

Where advertising claims for a complementary medicine are based on traditional use, ensure it prominently displays or communicates the tradition of use and paradigm for the claims.

For details refer to Section 23 of the Code.

Assessed-listed medicines and registered complementary medicines which have been assessed for efficacy by the TGA are eligible to use the 'TGA assessed' claim on their medicine label and other advertising material. Listed medicines and registered complementary medicines that have not been assessed are not eligible. References to TGA or any suggestion that your product is approved or endorsed by the TGA or any other government agency are not permitted.

Vitamins and minerals

Retail product labels for vitamin supplements taken orally must include a statement that:

1. VITAMINS CAN ONLY BE OF ASSISTANCE IF THE DIETARY VITAMIN INTAKE IS INADEQUATE; or
2. VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS SHOULD NOT REPLACE A BALANCED DIET

Other representations in relation to vitamins or minerals are prohibited. Advertising cannot include claims that:

• Vitamin or mineral supplements are a substitute for good nutrition or a balanced diet or that they are more beneficial in any way than dietary nutrients
• A therapeutic good contains 'vitamins' unless it contains a substance listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations
• Express the amount of a vitamin or mineral present in a product as a percentage or proportion of the recommended daily or dietary intake or allowance
• Provide the recommended daily intake or allowance of a vitamin or a mineral, unless it is current and sourced from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

For details refer to Schedule 2 of the Regulations and Section 25 of the Code.

Weight management products

Weight management includes weight loss, control or maintenance, measurement reduction, clothing size reduction and hunger suppression.

Ads including health benefit claims for weight management must clearly promote the need for a healthy energy-controlled diet and physical activity.

They cannot suggest that the product can correct or reverse the effects of consuming too much.

Any imagery, representations, statistics or testimonials of individuals used in advertising must reflect the results that the average user could expect to achieve from using the product.

For details refer to Section 26 of the Code.

Sunscreens

Advertising for sunscreens must clearly position sunscreens as being only one part of sun protection.

It must also include prominently displayed statements or visual representations to the communicate that:

1. PROLONGED HIGH-RISK SUN EXPOSURE SHOULD BE AVOIDED; and
2. FREQUENT RE-APPLICATION OR USE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DIRECTIONS IS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE SUN PROTECTION

For details refer to Section 27 of the Code.