New SUSDP labelling

The tenth edition of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP), which was published in July 1995 by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC), incorporates revised signal words for scheduled products as recommended by the Trans-Tasman Harmonisation Working Party. Although the SUSDP has no legal status in its own right, it is usually adopted without amendment by the States and Territories. Some States and Territories use adoption by reference, by automatically adopting new SUSDP recommendations into their legislation.

SUSDP makes the new wording optional until 30th June 2000, and mandatory after that date (the AHMAC recently changed the published date to 1997 but this decision is currently under review).

The TGA has determined that changes from the labelling requirements on page 21 of SUSDP No. 10, to the "signal word or words" in 8(1) on page 6, are self-assessable and need not be notified or supplied to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) provided that no other changes are made concurrently.

Receive fewer invoices ... here's how

Earlier this year the Business Management Unit advised of an option available to companies who wish to streamline their annual charge renewal dates.

Annual charges are due on the anniversary of the commencement date of registration or listing. Most sponsors have products with annual charge renewal dates spread across the year, resulting in as many invoices. You can make it easier on your accounts section, and reduce the workload associated with continually receiving invoices, by combining the renewal dates so that you only receive one invoice a year for annual charges. This saves time and unnecessary bank charges associated with many transactions.

If you wish to utilise this option, the renewal date for all products would be set at the earliest renewal date in the financial year. If you would prefer to have your annual charge invoices due at a later date, another date can be negotiated.

To make use of this facility, please provide the following information to

The Business Manager
Therapeutic Goods Administration
PO Box 100, Woden ACT 2606

• ARTG Number;
• product name;
• commencement date of registration or listing; and
• preferred new renewal date.

The TGA now accepts credit card payments

A quick reminder that the TGA now accepts credit card payments on Mastercard, Bankcard and Visa. The TGA will accept credit card payments from $10.00 up to the preferred maximum of $5,000. The absolute maximum is $15,000.

If you can't get in to see us, payments can also be made by completing the TGA's credit card authorisation form and sending the completed form to: TGA Business Manager, PO Box 100, Woden ACT 2606. Credit card authorisation payment forms, usually attached to TGA invoices and publication order forms, can be obtained from the TGA.

As with cheque payments, credit card payments that are dishonoured by the card holder's bank are not valid payments and the usual penalties for non-payment will apply.