Launch of TGA Advertising Hub – Initial experience of submitting complaints

This page provides my experience of submiting complaints to the TGA’s new complaint system. It documents the date complaints were submitted and the TGA reference number allocated.

Many of these complaints were based on previous complaints upheld by the CRP but whose sponsor (and others) continue to make claims that were determined to breach the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Most were worked up by my Monash ‘Whack-a-mole‘ students, then checked and submited by me.

The outcome of these complaints can be found by searching the TGA’s complaint investigation database: https://compliance.tga.gov.au/investigations-database/ for the complaint reference number, e.g. AL-B81GN1V3/2018. 

Complaints submitted

1. 5 July 2018, Pharmacare Laboratories Ease-a-cold products, AL-B81GN1V3/2018
2. 6 July 2018, Pharmacare Laboratories Promensil Menopause products, AC-4I7BPN1V/2018.
3. 6 July 2018, Pharmacare Laboratories FatBlaster FatMagnet products, AC-GBKDH2XG/2018
4. 7 July 2018, Pharmacare Laboratories Nature’s Way Magnesium Products, AC-GOZU449N/2018
5. 9 July 2018, Pharmacare Laboratories Sambucol Products, AC-FR55H9ST/2018
6. 10 July 2018, Weleda Arnica Homeopathic Products, AC-I9WC23OP/2018
7. 12 July 2018, Pretorius, Bioglan, Healthy Care Homeopathic Products,  AC-9NXC9UV6/2018
8. 13 July 2018, Brauer (Homeopathic) Products, AC-PDKHURWV/2018
9. 15 July 2018, Au Remedial, Pain®Gone and Pain®Gone Plus,  AC-KD45638R/2018
10. 24 July 2018, Numerous sponsors, The ongoing and dangerous promotion of ear candles (updated 5/1/2019), AC-5TMWIYHC/2018
11. 30 July 2018, Sawyer Extractor™ Pump for Snake Bite, AC-22VHXCSG/2018
12. 30 July 2018, BioRevive® Hydrodol® Hangover Relief Products, AC-MW9QQH4F/2018
13. 3 August 2018, Brand Developers Australia Pty Ltd – Pain Erazor, AC-E7JS15BB/2018
14. 7 August 2018, Multiple Hangover products: Plus Daily Ltd Recoverthol, Clever Health Rejoove, Body Armour Pty Ltd Hangover Relief, D & X Pty Ltd Hey! King Premium Hangover Relief; AC-JY0FXQ3S/2018
15. 16 August 2018, Pharmacare Laboratories Weight Loss Products, Additional information requested, AC-NJ15VLQ9/2018.
16. 21 August 2018, Detox Foot Patches / Pads, AC-UA26W8I4/2018
17. 10 September 2018, Phoenix Pharmaceuticals Rapid Recovery Hangover Relief, AC-EN0KHC4U/2018
18. 11 September 2018, PINPOINT Bright Brains (Bacopa Monnieri), AC-X0BCJTUU/2018
19. 20 September 2018, New Life Health Products 14 Day Smart Cleanse, AC-8ZECEICA/2018
20. 20 September 2018, Export Corporation Australia Pty Ltd, Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite, AC-SDS3HO9Q/2018
21. 16 October 2019, A Menarini Australia Pty Ltd – Seremind, AC-CE8WFJYQ/2018
22. 02 November 2018, Swisse Ultiboost Co-enzyme Q10, AC-9ZFYC2IB/2018
23. 08 November 2018, Nature’s Care CoEnzyme Q10 , AC-GV0EUHBY/2018
24. 08 November 2018, Bioglan CoQ10, AC-VMY82VS1/2018
25. 16 November 2018, Blackmores CoQ10 AC-41SKDOFE/2018
26. 28 November 2018, Doctor’s Best Extra Strength Ginkgo, AC-JJPZUJ0G/2018
27. 29 November 2018, Cabot Health Ultra Potent Selenium, AC-YVO8MW50/2018
28. 28 November 2018, Swisse Ultiboost Lecithin, AC-JBQA7UJM/2018
29. 6 December 2018, Evolution Health, Liver Support Probiotic, AL-IP17Y7E6/2018
30. 11 December 2018,  Evolution Supplements – The King Kong Stack, AC-C7NJIKYV/2018
31. 13 December 2018, Polarbare Club Whole Body Cryotherapy (JUKA Cryosauna), AC-SK500GAY/2018
32. 02 February 2019, Lifewave Patches, AC-CT4GMPOM/2019
33. 13 February 2019, Bulk Nutrients, Tek Naturals, Total Nootropics, AC-4MMN8XA6/2019.
34. 13 February 2019, Professor Yoland Lim Health Care, AL-LFAYGY1I/2019.
35. 21 March, 2019, Blackmores Ltd – Metabolic C12, AC-K1XPSTXI/2019.
36. 07 April 2019, Hong Kong Supermarket Clayton, 3168, Yunnan Baiyao, AC-IHR8AB13/2019
37. 14 May 2019, Neurofolin – a food for special medical purposes for the dietary support of depression management, AC-NLDGK2LY/2019
38. 18 July 2019, MyDNA pharmacy assistant rewards program, AC-1M5393FG/2019
39. 29 July 2019, 103 breaches of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (No. 2) 2018, s.26(3)(a) by 35 companies advertising 19 weight loss products, AC-MBNGMHNQ/2019
40. 30 July 2019, Muscle Peptide Australia, AC-LS3ZWDA0/2019
41. 8 August 2019, Peptides Direct Australia & NZ , AC-BK2694MW/2019
42. 18 September 2019, Happy Hormones, Lisa Curry, Elevate Communication, AC-43J7FDNP/2019.
43. 26 September 2019, Fleurstat – VivaGel® – Vaginal flora gel, AL-J8E63FOC/2019
44. 30 September 2019, Nature’s Own Double Strength Cold Sore Relief, AC-VX4XXANZ/2019
45. 1 October 2019, Australian NaturalCare Products Curcumin, AC-2WZ0O0YF/2019
46. 18 October 2019, CrampFix Pty Ltd – CrampFix, AC-1H1QJ6RQ/2019
47. 28 October 2019, Evolution Supplements – SARMS PCT – 60 Caps and numerous other illegally supplied products, AC-STPU2M95/2019
48. 31 October 2019, Phoenix Pharmaceuticals Rapid Recovery Hangover Relief (again), AC-BGKWMZBG/2019
49. 29 November 2019, JT Medical distributor of suspended POLYTECH Breast implants, AC-G8RWXAES/2019
50. 20 Decenber 2019, Fresh Start Everyday Detox (Sync Corporation), AC-VY4MQ62F/2019
51. 20 Decenber 2019, MasterCell Clinic (Dr Soraya Felix), AC-1A5AMYFK/2019
52. 20 Decenber 2019, Mundicare® Cold Defence Nasal Spray , AC-3JAMPO3O/2019
53. 20 Decenber 2019, Breastexcellence.com.au (Dr George Mayson), AC-AVQKCMG9/2019
54. 5 January 2020, Swisse Omega-3 Fish Oil products, AC-4HQEDT2E/2020
55. 5 January 2020, Additional Fish Oil products, AC-HT4AP26H/2020
56. 6 January 2020, Non-compliance with regulatory obligation letter – Pain Erazor (AC-2DVQTK7S/2020)
57. 6 January 2020, Non-compliance with regulatory obligation letter – Pain®Gone, etc. (AC-S0YCKZNR/2020)
58. 7 January 2020, Australian Naturalcare Products Pty Ltd, Saw Palmetto Prostate Formula, AC-496HWMEV/2020
59. 9 January 2020, Swisse Wellness Pty Ltd, Swisse Ultiboost Prostate, AC-OJ1XFHC9/2020
60. 9 January 2020, Martin & Pleasance Pty Ltd, Rescue Remedy Drops & Spray, AC-FLK7CAJR/2020
61. 9 January 2020, Martin & Pleasance Pty Ltd, Rescue Sleep Spray & Drops, AC-ZFYZMZG2/2020
62. 9 January 2020, Natural Bio Pty Limited, Bioglan Ginkgo Biloba 2000mg, AC-8WYJPY8I/2020
63. 9 January 2020 – RF Six Pty Ltd, Microgenics Ginkgo 7000, AC-KYH1Q97X/2020
64. 9 January 2020, Natural Bio Pty Limited, Bioglan Active Magnesium Cream, AC-9ZNN3CEG/2020
65. 10 January 2020, Blackmores Ltd, Blackmores Proseren Capsules, AC-DL7PU84J/2020
66. 12 January 2020, Australian NaturalCare Products Pty Ltd, Ginkgo 10,000mg One-A-Day, AC-T12NDYH3/2020
67. 13 January 2020, N-Hance Pty Ltd, WYLD MAN, WYLD WOMEN, AC-20WZ0198/2020
68. 15 January 2020, Bioglan Healthy Kids Eye Guard Chewable, AC-Q286RSS9/2020
69. 15 January 2020, Healthy Care Ginkgo Biloba 2000, AC-WY05W55Y/2020
70. 15 January 2020, Sensuous Pty Ltd, Sensuous Raging Bull Male Enhancement Formula, AC-UNGCNCZA/2020
71. 27 January 2020, Contract Manufacturing & Packaging Services Pty Ltd, Zifampinnacle, Facia, AC-1J8YT9YX/2020
72. 28 January 2020, Evolution Health Pty Ltd, Life Space Probiotic for Pregnancy & Breastfeeding, AC-RIKTBXBT/2020
73. 20 January 2020, Nature’s Sunshine Black Cohosh, AC-CKBJMZG3/2020
74. 30 January 2020, Swisse Ultiboost Menopause Balance, AC-2HJG3UAJ/2020
75. 30 January 2020, Nutrient Avenue, Herbs of Gold Burn with Svetol 60t, AC-ECJ0MAHF/2020
76. 30 January 2020, Pharmacare Laboratories Pty Ltd, Nature’s Way Kids Smart Omega-3 Fish Oil products, AC-3IK4DOCX/2020
77. 12 February 2020, NSW clinics making fraudulent claims for IV therapy, AC-F2M56XJT/2020
78. February 19, 2020, Complaint to TGA – InSkin Cosmedics Group, Dermapen 4, AC-UJ05SSRN/2020
79. 26 February, 2020, Blackmores Glucosamine Sulfate 1500mg, AC-2R0CZ7A1/2020
80. 27 February 2020, Caruso’s Kids Eye Care (and others), AC-C70DQYLG/2020
81. 4 March 2020, Caruso’s Glucosamine 1500, AC-ZEFI8LEM/2020
82. 7 April 2020, DOJS Holdings Pty BergaMet Pro+, AC-NTI67OV3/2020 

See also:

• Further experience of submitting complaints
• TGA’s new compliant system tested
• Ear candles: the outcome of complaints submitted
• TGA fails to act on illegal sports supplements
• Consequences of TGA failure to act on complaints about illegal products
• More complaints to TGA about illegal body building and weight loss supplements
• Independent review: Therapeutic goods advertising

by