The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued three infringement notices totalling $7,992 to an individual for allegedly advertising ivermectin and zinc lozenges to treat COVID-19 in breach of the (the Act).
Ivermectin is a prescription only medicine and cannot be advertised to the Australian public. The TGA has previously consumers and advertisers about illegal advertising relating to COVID-19.
The individual allegedly claimed, on their website, that ivermectin and zinc lozenges are effective in the treatment of COVID-19. References in advertising to the coronavirus (COVID-19) are a and the individual had not been granted authorisation to make the claim.
It is also alleged that the individual claimed, on their website, that ivermectin is “safe” when used for COVID-19. Under the (the Code), the advertising of products for therapeutic use in humans, must not claim they are safe, cannot cause harm or have no side-effects.
Some homoeopathic and natural medicines are exempt from the requirement to be entered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. However, advertisers of exempt products must comply with other requirements in the Act, including the rules on restricted representations in advertising, as well as compliance with the .
The TGA encourages .
If you suspect non-compliance in relation to therapeutic goods more broadly, you can online to the TGA.
