Consumer information and resources

Explore this page to:

get advice for using health products in everyday life including when travelling, buying and importing them
find the rules for accessing health products such as vapes
stay updated with shortages and alerts
get product safety information
search for product information in our databases
report issues with health products
get to know us, including what products we regulate.

Products in everyday life

Get information for using products in your everyday life, including when travelling, buying and importing products.

Travelling with medicines and medical devices

Whether you're leaving Australia for a holiday or coming to Australia to see the sights, it's recommended that you take your medicines or medical devices with you.
Buying medicines and medical devices online

See our information and video on the risks of buying health products online.
Importing a medicine or medical device

Australia has rules on importing medicines and medical devices.
Appropriate use of disinfectants: information for consumers, health professionals and healthcare facilities

We have identified disinfectants as being critical in preventing the spread of COVID-19. This information provides advice on how to use disinfectants properly.

Find out how to access products such as vapes, medicinal cannabis, MDMA and opioids.

Access unapproved products (consumers)

You can access unapproved therapeutic goods that are not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) in limited circumstances. You must speak to a health practitioner first.
Vapes: information for individuals and patients

Find out about therapeutic vapes for smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence, how they are regulated, and how they can be accessed.
Medicinal cannabis: Information for patients

You may be able to access medicinal cannabis from a pharmacy with a prescription. Speak to your medical practitioner (doctor) or nurse practitioner to see if it's the right treatment for you.
Access MDMA or psilocybine (consumers)

MDMA can be accessed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psilocybine can be accessed for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Prescription opioids: Information for consumers, patients and carers

Find out what the changes mean for you or your loved ones, including answers to commonly asked questions.

Stay up to date with product shortages, recalls and safety alerts.

Medicine shortages: information for consumers

Understand medicine shortages and what to do if your medicine is affected.
Alerts

See and search our full list of safety and medicine shortage alerts and market actions (including recalls, product alerts and product corrections).

Explore safety information on different product types to make informed choices.

Sunscreens

Find out how to choose a sunscreen, use it correctly, report a problem and learn how we regulate sunscreens.
Weight loss products

If you want to know more, we have developed comprehensive information on weight-loss products and what to be aware of.
Breast implant hub

General information on breast implants, complications and BIA-ALCL.
Hand sanitisers: information for consumers

Updated information on using and buying hand sanitisers.
COVID-19 vaccine: Information for consumers and health professionals

Find answers to common questions about how the TGA assesses and monitors a vaccine for safety, quality and effectiveness.
Cosmetic injections

Information on cosmetic injections so you can make an informed decision about your procedure.

Search for an approved product in our Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Get consumer medicine information from the register.

Explore our prescription medicine decision summaries to understand why we approved, or did not approve, registration for a new medicine in the ARTG.

Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)

Search our database of therapeutic goods that can be supplied in Australia.
Australian prescription medicine decision summaries

Search our Australian prescription medicine decision summary database.

Report product issues including side effects, defects, illegal imports and non-compliant advertising.

Reporting adverse events for consumers

How to report a side effect, reaction or other problem with a therapeutic good. Your report can help keep others safe.
Report a medicine or vaccine defect

Use this form to report defects that you think have arisen during manufacture, storage or handling of a medicine or vaccine.
Report a perceived breach or questionable practices

Use this form to report a perceived breach of the Therapeutic Goods Act, counterfeit products or questionable practices in relation to therapeutic products.
Report non-compliant advertising

Use this portal to report a non-compliant advertisement for a medicine, medical device or any other type of therapeutic good.

Learn about the types of products we regulate and what we don't regulate. Subscribe to get the latest updates.

What we regulate

The different types of therapeutic goods we regulate.
What is not regulated by us

Find out what products and services are not regulated by us.
Email subscriptions

We offer several email subscription options to keep you up to date with news and alerts.
Medicines safety and general information for consumers

Information about medicines, including safety and general information.
Standards applying to therapeutic goods: information for consumers

Therapeutic goods (including medicines) which are supplied in Australia must comply with certain standards.
What's new

Find all our recently published information in one place.