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The TGA aims to complete the OTC medicine evaluation process within a specified target time.
The target times for the evaluation phase differ for the application levels. Lower application levels have shorter target times and fewer rounds of formal Request for information than higher level applications.
Note: The target evaluation times are for the TGA time only, which does not include 'sponsor time'. 'Sponsor time' is the time taken by the sponsor to respond to a request for information from the TGA.
| Application level | Target total evaluation time (TGA time - working days) | Number of Requests for Information (RFI) | Standard time allowed for sponsors to respond to the RFI (working days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| N1 | 45 | 1 | 5 |
| N2 | 55 | 1 | 15 |
| N3 | 150 | 2 | 1st - 43 2nd - 21 |
| N4 | 170 | 2 | 1st - 43 2nd - 21 |
| N5 | 210 | 2 | 1st - 43 2nd - 21 |
| CN | N/A - automated approval | N/A | N/A |
| C1 | 20 | 1 | 5 |
| C2 | 64 | 1 | 15 |
| C3 | 120 | 2 | 1st - 43 2nd - 21 |
| C4 | 170 | 2 | 1st - 43 2nd - 21 |
Target first round evaluation times
C2 applications
A target first round evaluation time of 43 working days applies to C2 applications submitted on or after 9 April 2014.
The TGA will introduce target first round evaluation times for other OTC application levels progressively, as supporting data becomes available.
| Version | Description of change | Author | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1.0 | Original publication | OMA - OTCME | 15/04/2013 |
| V1.1 |
| OMA - OTCME | 20/05/2014 |
| V1.2 | As part of the ongoing refinement of the OTC business process, the target evaluation times for N2 applications were reviewed. The target total evaluation time for OTC N2 applications has been reduced from 75 days to 55 days. | COMB-OTCME | 01/11/2015 |
| V1.3 | Update to reflect the new notification process (CN) commencing 1 July 2017. | OTC Medicines Evaluation Section / Scientific Operations Management Section | June 2017 |