QUM labelling changes

THE Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has announced improvements to medicines labelling in Australia, developing resources to support health professionals in their communications with patients.

The intention of the TGA is to help bring Australian medicine labels up to date and align them with international best practice.

“They will help Australians to make more informed choices about their medicines and to use them more safely.”

The TGA said it had developed posters targeted at healthcare professionals and consumers and these would be gradually released over the four-year transition period allowing sponsors to comply.

Downloadable documents graphically explain the structure of the new labels ( pictured).

The labelling will be in a consistent format with medicine information such as active ingredients, uses, warnings, directs for use and other information.

The new requirement is that the active ingredient name (generic name) will be in larger font than on previous renderings, and over the four-year transition period, more allergens will appear or prompt the consumer to reference the ‘Consumer Medicines Information’ on the pack.

The downloadable posters alert consumers to “Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions.”