Health products advertising

THE Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has posted a new summary of rules around safety claims when advertising health products.

Advertisers are prevented from claiming that their product is safe, that their use cannot cause harm, or that they have no side-effects.

Implied safety claims are also prohibited, such as claiming a product has a “safe mode of action”, “no known side effects”, is a “safe alternative”, has “non-toxic amounts of...” or is “a safe alternative to prescription medicines without the debilitating side effects”.

The TGA also placed emphasis on the inappropriate use of the word “natural” being used to imply safety.

Similarly the use of the word “organic” must not be used comparatively or suggestive of purity versus inorganic.

Even implications that an alternative product can be harmful is considered a safety claim and is not allowed.

See details at tga.gov.au.