What mandatory statements are required on supplement advertisements in Australia?
CompliGUARD reviews this compliance area against TGA · AHPRA · FSANZ · ACCC frameworks for Australian health brands — here's what the regulations say.
CompliGUARD checks supplement advertising for the mandatory statements required under the TGA Advertising Code. All consumer advertisements for Listed and Registered Medicines in Australia must include the product's AUST L or AUST R number, the name of the sponsor, and the statement 'Always read the label and follow the directions for use' — these requirements apply across all channels including social media.
The rule: Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2021, s.14–16
Sections 14–16 of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2021 set out mandatory information requirements for consumer advertising of therapeutic goods. Every advertisement directed to consumers must include: the product's ARTG entry number (AUST L or AUST R), the name and address of the sponsor (the business responsible for the product in Australia), and the statement 'Always read the label and follow the directions for use.' These requirements apply to every advertisement — including short-form social media posts, video advertising, and digital banner ads — regardless of format or character constraints.
What this means in practice
- Include the AUST L or AUST R number in every consumer advertisement — in social media posts, this typically appears in the caption.
- Include the sponsor name in all advertising. For most brands this is the company name — ensure it matches the name on the ARTG entry.
- Include 'Always read the label and follow the directions for use' in every consumer advertisement — this cannot be abbreviated or paraphrased.
- For video advertising, mandatory statements can appear as on-screen text — ensure they are legible and remain on screen for sufficient duration.
- For short-form social media formats where character limits are a constraint, prioritise mandatory statements over marketing copy — a non-compliant advertisement is more costly than a shorter caption.
- For the full Code walkthrough, see our practical guide to the TGA Advertising Code 2021.
Common mistakes
Omitting mandatory statements from Instagram and Facebook posts
The character constraints of social media platforms do not create an exemption from mandatory statement requirements. Omitting the AUST number or 'always read the label' statement from a social post advertising a therapeutic good is a direct breach of s.14–16.
Add mandatory statements to every social media caption before publishing. Consider creating a caption template that includes them as a standard block at the end of each post.
Using an outdated AUST number after product reformulation
If a product has been reformulated or its ARTG listing updated, advertising must reflect the current AUST number. Using an outdated number — or omitting it because it has changed — is a breach even if the product itself is compliant.
Maintain a register of current AUST numbers for all advertised products and review it whenever advertising is updated or reformulated products are relaunched.
Abbreviating 'always read the label' to save space
The Advertising Code requires the specific statement 'Always read the label and follow the directions for use' — shortened versions such as 'read the label' or 'ARTL' are not compliant.
Use the full statement verbatim. If character limits are a genuine constraint, reduce other copy rather than abbreviating mandatory statements.
Compliant vs non-compliant example
❌ NON-COMPLIANT
Omitting mandatory statements from Instagram and Facebook posts
✅ COMPLIANT
Add mandatory statements to every social media caption before publishing. Consider creating a caption template that includes them as a standard block at the end of each post.
The enforcement context
Missing mandatory statements — particularly AUST numbers and the 'always read the label' statement — are consistently among the highest-volume TGA infringement notice triggers. In 2023–24, the TGA issued 4,806 removal requests, many targeting social media content that lacked the required mandatory elements. Infringement notices for missing mandatory statements have been issued to supplement brands of all sizes.
Before you publish, check it.
CompliGUARD checks every review submission for mandatory statement compliance under TGA Advertising Code ss.14–16.
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Regulatory references
- Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2021 (Cth), s.14 (mandatory statements — general)
- Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2021 (Cth), s.15 (mandatory statements — consumer advertising)
- Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2021 (Cth), s.16 (AUST number requirement)