Proposing a new ingredient name

Preparing your proposal

There are four steps in the approval process for a new name.

Step 1 - Select the appropriate form

Choose the most appropriate form for your substance from the list in Table 14. See Ingredient naming requirements and categorisation. 

If you are unable to determine the correct form, please contact TGA names by email: tganames@tga.gov.au.

Step 2 - Prepare and submit your proposal form and supporting information

You will need to:

• Provide a monograph or other reference that contains enough information to allow the name to be defined with certainty. This includes any details about salts and other derivatives. See Supporting references for approved ingredient names.
• Provide a justification if you are proposing a name that differs to an existing INN for that substance.
• Check the relevant application form for any additional requirements for supporting information.

Step 3 - Consideration of the proposed name

• We will check the form for completeness, including attached references.
• We will not process incomplete forms until you provide the required information.

If insufficient information is provided

• There may be delays in processing your proposal.
• We may decide to reject the proposal.

Reviewing your proposed name

Relevant technical experts at the TGA will consider the proposed name for approval.

We have three internal committees to review proposed names:

• Australian Approved Names Committee (AANC) - considers naming of AANs and terminology, as well as AANs for chemical substances derived from plants.
• Approved Biological Names Committee (ABNC) - considers naming of ABNs and ACNs, as well as new terms for animal: parts, origins and preparations.
• Herbal Ingredient Names Committee (HINC) - considers naming of AHNs, AHSs, AINs and HCNs, as well as new terms for plant parts and plant preparations.

Please note

The naming committees do not consider names for finished goods, e.g. trade names for medicines.

Step 4 - Approval

We will advise you of the outcome of our considerations in writing.

If the proposed name is accepted

We will update the Ingredients Table - external site on the TGA Business Services website with enough information to identify the ingredient.

You can then use the approved ingredient name in other applications. For more information on searching for ingredient names in the Ingredients Table, refer to Search for approved ingredients and accepted terminology in TGA Business Services.

If your proposed name is not accepted

We will notify you and outline the reasons why the proposed name is unacceptable. Alternatively, we may propose an alternative name.

Please note

TGA approval of a name does not mean that the ingredient has been approved (or recommended) for use in therapeutic goods.

Proposing a new herbal ingredient name

When proposing a new herbal ingredient name, follow the process in section 9.1. You will also need to refer to the following:

• Herbal Ingredients
• Complete approved herbal names

Proposing a new plant part or preparation

There is no form for proposing a new plant part or plant preparation.

To do this, please contact TGA names by email: tganames@tga.gov.au.