TGA issues $150k COVID-19 fine

THE Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued infringement notices totalling more than $150,000 for the alleged unlawful advertising of a product called Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS), including treatment claims relating to COVID-19.

The move follows a TGA safety alert published last week to warn consumers about online claims about the product about the treatment, cure, prevention or alleviation of disease.

“There is no clinical, scientifically-accepted evidence showing that MMS can cure or alleviate any disease,” the TGA said.

“The use of MMS presents serious health risks and can result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and severe dehydration, which in some cases can result in hospitalisation.”

The product is being promoted by a company called Southern Cross Directories Pty Limited, trading as MMS Australia which also describes itself as a “Health Church”.

The TGA said MMS was often marketed as “water purification drops” and contains a high concentration of sodium chlorite, a chemical used as a textile bleaching agent and disinfectant.

Because MMS Australia has promoted the product as being for therapeutic uses, it is subject to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.

The infringement notices were based on alleged contraventions of the Act and the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (No. 2) 2018 in relation to advertisements that included prohibited representations (such as for HIV/AIDS and cancer), restricted representations (e.g. diabetes, Parkinson’s and arthritis), implied that a health practitioner had endorsed a product, and included a testimonial where the person giving the testimonial “appears to be directly involved with the production, sale, supply or marketing of the goods”.