Australia's medicines regulator recorded a rise in advertising rule breaches across digital platforms and telehealth services during FY23, yet only seven companies faced financial penalties.
In its Therapeutic Goods Advertising Compliance Annual Report 2022-23, the Therapeutic Goods Administration noted a growing trend of companies using third-party platforms — including media outlets and online business directories — as well as websites and social media channels to unlawfully promote the supply and consumption of medicinal cannabis products.
The regulator also observed a greater number of cases in which therapeutic goods were being promoted alongside telehealth services connected to medicinal cannabis prescriptions.
Over the course of the year, the TGA received 362 allegations of non-compliance, had 351 allegedly unlawful advertisements pulled from digital platforms, and issued 101 infringement notices across seven entities, amounting to a combined total of A$1,292,040.
