Nadine Dilong In a letter sent by the TGA’s Assistant Director Advertising and Compliance Education and Policy Section, Kate Kaylock, it was announced that the rules around advertising schedule-4 drugs have changed.
The letter states that commonly used terms ‘dermal filler’ and ‘anti-wrinkle injections’, will no longer be allowed in any advertising of a clinic’s or practitioner’s services, as they “refer to (by drawing the audience’s mind to) prescription only products.” This is, of course, in addition to the already restricted use of brand names or variations of brand names.
This change in the guidelines will make it even harder for aesthetic practitioners to talk about their injectable services in any of their marketing materials. As an alternative to referring to the product or service of injecting, the TGA states that businesses are welcome to mention the broader category of treatment, such as: ‘our clinic can provide consultations on reducing the appearance of wrinkles’.
The letter also states that these changes came into effect on December 18, 2023, however, the TGA hasn’t published the new guidance on their website, but intends to do so by mid-late January.
With this change in guidelines, Australia’s rules around advertising schedule-4 drugs become some of the strictest in the world, and will no doubt take some getting used to by cosmetic injectors.
We will watch this space closely and have reached out to the TGA for further commentary.
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