Therapeutic Goods Advertising Consultative Committee, 2 December 2022

The Therapeutic Goods Advertising Consultative Committee met in Sydney on Friday 2 December 2022. The Committee comprises stakeholder organisations (healthcare professional bodies, consumer groups, therapeutic goods industry peak bodies and peak bodies from the advertising industry) with an interest in the advertising of therapeutic goods in Australia.

The Committee discussed the outcomes of the public consultation on regulatory options to potentially allow references to the TGA in therapeutic goods advertising that closed on Monday 7 November 2022.  Further submissions have been sought from healthcare and consumer representative groups noting these groups were underrepresented or not represented in the 14 submissions received to the public consultation.

The Committee provided feedback on the Advertising and Compliance Education Plan 2023 and prioritisation of the activities in the plan. The plan aligns with the Import, Advertising and Supply Compliance Priorities 2022-23 and should also be read in conjunction with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Compliance Education Strategy 2021.

A member of the committee presented a paper seeking discussion on the potential for allowing paid testimonials in advertisements for sunscreen products that are regulated as therapeutic goods. Members will provide written responses for consideration by the Minister and the TGA.

The Committee also noted:

• updates from the TGA’s Medical Devices and Product Quality Division, including on applications for consent to supply medical devices that have non-compliant labelling, personalised medical device advertising, software medical device advertising and COVID-19 test advertising
• the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Compliance and Education Report including an update on activities relating to compliance priorities, as well as other activities including those related to:
  • unlawful advertising of a product contributing to a medicines shortage
  • the TGA’s approach to unlawful online advertising
  • Operation Pangea XIV, targeting the removal of illicit and counterfeit therapeutic goods from the market
  • advertising compliance education activities including publications, updates to the TGA website, training, and upcoming compliance education activities.

The next meeting will be held in Canberra in April 2023.