What is regulated as a biological

We apply regulation to products that meet the definition of a biological in three ways. Biologicals can be (a) excluded from TGA regulation, (b) regulated as a therapeutic good, but not as a biological, or (c) regulated as a biological.

1. Examples of products that are excluded from TGA regulation include fresh viable organs, fresh haematopoietic progenitor cells, assisted reproductive technologies and autologous human cells and tissues that meet specific eligibility criteria.
2. Examples of products that are regulated as a therapeutic good but not as a biological include prescription biological medicines, such as vaccines, plasma derivatives and recombinant products; labile blood and blood components; haematopoietic progenitor cells used for haematopoietic reconstitution (non-fresh transplants).
3. Examples of products that we do regulate as a biological include human cells or tissue-based products; products that comprise or contain live animal cells, tissues or organs; combination products such as cell therapy and medical devices.

Excluded goods are not subject to any of the requirements in the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, including:

• good manufacturing practice
• inclusion on the Register
• adverse event reporting
• compliance with TGA standards for therapeutic goods

The following biologicals are excluded goods:

• Eligible autologous human cells and tissues products
• Fresh viable human organs
• Fresh haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs)
• Reproductive tissue for assisted reproductive therapy

These products are excluded from regulation under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 by reference in the Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods) Determination 2018.

Eligible autologous human cells and tissues products

We will not regulate autologous HCT products if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. collected from a patient who is under the clinical care of a medical or dental practitioner registered under a law of a State or an internal Territory
2. manufactured by that medical or dental practitioner, or by a person or persons under the professional supervision of that medical or dental practitioner in a hospital (except storage and testing), for that patient who must be a patient of that hospital
3. not advertised to consumers

Where one or more criteria are not met, including advertising to consumers, regulation by TGA will apply.

These criteria are in the Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Goods) Determination 2018.

These biologicals are not regulated by us because the Government has decided that there is appropriate external regulation for them.

Fresh viable human organs

We do not regulate fresh viable human organs, or parts of human organs, for direct donor-to-host transplantation and used in accordance with applicable laws and standards.

The purpose of this item is to exclude organs for direct donor-to-host transplantation from the operation of the therapeutic goods legislation. It should be noted that only the organs are excluded from the definition of therapeutic goods. Equipment and material used for manufacturing may still be subject to regulation.

Fresh haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs)

We do not regulate fresh viable human haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) for direct donor-to-host transplantation for the purpose of haematopoietic reconstitution.

Examples:

• bone marrow cells
• cord blood

The term 'haematopoietic progenitor cell' has been used deliberately. We no longer use the term 'bone marrow' to reflect current terminology and practice in the field of HPC transplantation.

Only the HPCs are excluded from the definition of therapeutic goods. Equipment and material used for manufacturing may still be subject to regulation.

Reproductive tissue for assisted reproductive therapy

Reproductive tissue for use in assisted reproductive therapy is not regulated by the TGA.

Examples of products that are excluded goods:

• sperm
• eggs
• embryos for in vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive technologies

This exclusion reflects the decision of the Australian Health Ministers' Conference in July 2008 that reproductive tissues should not be regulated by the TGA because use of these tissues was already coherently and consistently managed.

Some products, even though they meet the definition of a biological are:

• regulated by us as therapeutic goods
• not regulated as biologicals

The Secretary can declare specific therapeutic goods to either be or not be biologicals.

Things that are not biologicals

The following goods are declared not to be biologicals:

• biological medicines (regulated as prescription medicines):
  • vaccines (that do not contain viable human cells)
  • recombinant products
  • plasma derived products (or that contain plasma derived products)
• blood and blood components (regulated as medicines under the Therapeutic Goods (Manufacturing Principles) determination)
  • Blood means whole blood collected from a single human donor and processed either for transfusion or further manufacturing.
  • Blood components means therapeutic components of blood (red cells, white cells, platelets, plasma) that can be prepared by centrifugation, filtration and freezing, but not including haematopoietic progenitor cells.
• haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) used for haematopoietic reconstitution (regulated as medicines under the Therapeutic Goods (Manufacturing Principles) determination)
  • HPC means self-renewing or multi-potent stem cells, or both, capable of maturation into haematopoietic lineages, lineage-restricted pluripotent progenitor cells, or committed progenitor cells.
  • Includes HPC derived from cord blood.
• in vitro diagnostic devices (IVDs)
• samples of human cell or tissue that are solely for diagnostic purposes in the same individual

These are defined in the Therapeutic Goods (Things that are not Biologicals) Determination).

For your product to be regulated as a biological it must:

• be a therapeutic good (as defined in the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989)
• either meet the definition of a biological or be specified by legislative instrument to be a biological

Your product will not be regulated as a biological if it is:

• an excluded good
• regulated as a therapeutic good, but not as a biological

If your product is regulated as a biological, pathways to supply biologicals will explain the levels of regulation applied.

Related information: Classification of biologicals