The therapeutic goods industry associations each have a self-regulatory Code of Conduct or Code of Practice which sets the standards for companies when promoting a medicine or medical technology.
The Codes of Conduct/Practice include mechanisms for dealing with complaints about advertising and other conduct by companies. In addition, each Code outlines a complaints process to be followed when dealing with certain types of advertising about ALL types of therapeutic goods where the advertising appears in the mainstream media (such as TV and radio).
The therapeutic goods industry is broadly organised around the following types of products that its member companies supply:
Prescribed medicines
This sector focuses on medicines that you can only get with a prescription. It includes both companies that are researching new medicines (originator companies) and companies that are supplying generic medicines once all valid patents have expired.
Non-prescription consumer healthcare products
This sector includes medicines you can get from a pharmacy without a prescription and those you can buy in a supermarket.
Complementary medicines and natural healthcare products
This sector includes vitamins, mineral, nutritional supplements, special purpose foods, herbal and homoeopathic medicines, aromatherapy products and natural cosmetics.
Medical technology and diagnostics
This sector includes items such as syringes and wound dressings, as well as high technology implanted devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, hip and other orthopaedic implants.
This sector also includes instruments and test reagents for pathology tests requested by doctors as well as over-the-counter tests such as blood glucose meters for diabetes testing or home pregnancy tests.
Dental products (medical devices)
This sector includes those medical devices which are commonly used by dental industry professionals in the course of their practice.
Who to contact to complain about an advertisement or the conduct of a company supplying therapeutic products
Where you should go to make your complaint will depend on the type of product involved and, if your complaint is about an advertisement, where you heard or saw the advertisement.
The Australian Government Therapeutic Goods Administration Complaints Resolution Panel (CRP) deals with complaints about advertisements for any therapeutic good directed to consumers in TV, radio, the internet, newspapers, magazines, displays (except inside individual shops) and in cinemas. The CRP form for lodging complaints can be found here:
If your complaint is about an advertisement not covered by the CRP or is about the conduct of a particular company, your complaint can be directed to the relevant industry association under its self-regulatory Code of Conduct/Practice. If you are unsure where to go, any of the industry associations listed below will be happy to guide you to the most appropriate person to contact.
If you would like to make a complaint about an advertisement or any other conduct by a company you will find further information about how to lodge your complaint and what you can expect from the complaints process on the websites listed below:
Type of therapeutic product
Prescribed medicines – generic and biosimilar medicines
Industry Association
Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA)
Website
https://www.gbma.com.au/gmia-code-of-practice/
Contact details
Telephone (02) 5104 0196 | Email admin@gbma.com.au
Prescribed medicines – originator medicines
Industry Association
Medicines Australia (MA)
Website
https://medicinesaustralia.com.au/code-of-conduct/lodging-responding-to-a-code-of-conduct-complaint/
Contact details
Telephone (02) 6122 8500 and ask for the Code of Conduct Secretary or email codesecretary@medicinesaustralia.com.au
Non-prescription consumer healthcare products
Industry Association
Consumer Healthcare Products (CHP) Australia
Website
https://www.chpaustralia.com.au/About/Code
Contact details
Telephone (02) 9922 5111 or email info@chpaustralia.com.au
Complementary medicines and natural healthcare products
Industry Association
Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA)
Website
https://cmaustralia.org.au/CMA-guidelines
Contact details
Telephone (02) 6260 4022 or email: standards@chc.org.au
Medical technologies and diagnostics
Industry Association
Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA)
Website
www.mtaa.org.au/complaints-0
Contact details
Telephone (02) 9900 0600
Dental products (medical devices)
Industry Association
Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA)
Website
www.adia.org.au/code-of-practice.html
Contact details
Telephone 1300 943 094 or email national.office@adia.org.au or code.complaints@adia.org.au