Enforcement news

Recent prosecutions

The seizure of unlawfully imported medical devices by
TGA investigators in New South Wales

Recent prosecutions by the Surveillance Unit have resulted in the conviction of: A Sydney company in relation to the importation of a large quantity of a wide variety of unapproved traditional Chinese medicines, in tablet and topical formulations.

Current investigations

Current investigations of the Unit have involved the seizure of large quantities of both prescription and nonprescription drug prnoducts in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. In all cases the drugs were unlawfully imported and in some cases also involved drugs of abuse, the importation of which is also prohibited under Customs legislation.

Personal Import Scheme

The Personal Import Scheme is a mechanism that enables, with some restrictions, consumers to import unapproved therapeutic goods for their own personal use, or that of their immediate family.

Recent investigations by the Surveillance Unit have detected some commercial exploitation of this scheme in relation to drug products. In some cases the drugs imported were on sold to the public and in one case were subject to further manufacture prior to such sale.

The seizure of unlawfully imported drug products by
TGA investigators in New South Wales

The Surveillance Unit, in liaison with the Australian Customs Service and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, pays particular attention to abuses of this scheme. Action taken by the Unit in such cases has included the re-export of the goods, the seizure and destruction of the goods, and in the more serious cases criminal charges have been laid. The seizure of unlawfully imported medical devices by TGA investigators in New South Wales.

Starting materials located inside a clandestine
laboratory manufacturing an over the counter drug product,
detected by TGA investigators in Queensland