Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Therapeutic goods advertising compliance is a complex area. And compliance needs to be assessed based on the advertisement’s likely impact on the audience to whom it is directed – this requires an “at arm’s length” assessment, in which you put yourself in the shoes of the audience. Not easy to do when there are competing priorities in your business. An experienced, professional advertising compliance consultant, like Seeside Advisory, can independently assess the compliance of your advertising (or proposed advertising) and recommend any changes needed to address compliance issues.

Ultimately, non-compliance can result in competitor complaints to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), unwanted media attention, fines (infringement notices), warnings or directions to remove or amend advertising. The TGA may also pursue civil or criminal court action, the penalties for which can run into millions of dollars.

Seeside Advisory offers a wide range of professional services to help you achieve your advertising and marketing goals in a way that complies with the medicine and medical device advertising laws. We have listed our most popular services here, but if you need something a bit different, we can work with you to tailor something.

To book an appointment with Seeside Advisory, simply book online or give us a call at 0406 646 728. We will assist you in finding a convenient time for your appointment.

The duration of a typical appointment at Seeside Advisory varies depending on the nature and complexity of the service. Our team will provide you with an estimated timeframe when you book your appointment.

Please note that cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance may be subject to a cancellation fee.

The laws that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) administer refer to ‘therapeutic goods’, which is a collective term for medicines, medical devices, biologicals and ‘other therapeutic goods’ (e.g. hard surface disinfectants). However, the TGA sometimes refers to ‘health products’ on its website. Health products are a much broader category of products, which include therapeutic goods, some foods and maybe some other products. However, the TGA only has jurisdiction over therapeutic goods.

If you are advertising a therapeutic good to Australian consumers, the laws apply to you and you will need to ensure the advertising complies with those laws.

If you don’t know whether the product concerned is a therapeutic good, we recommend finding out before advertising it. Retailers can check the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods for the product and confirm with the product supplier.

Product manufacturers and sponsors should consider the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s guidance as to whether the product is a therapeutic good. Take care with product claims though – marketing a product that is ordinarily a cosmetic or regular consumer good with therapeutic claims is likely to result in the product becoming a therapeutic good.