Published: 8 December 2025
Compliance
Exemption for advertising unapproved medicines at medical conferences
Advertising of unapproved medicines is not permitted unless the provisions of Section 34AA of the Medicines Act 1981 are met. This section provides an exemption from the prohibition on advertising the availability of unapproved medicines under section 20(2)(c) of the Act. This exemption applies only in the context of medical conferences and associated trade shows.
What the exemption requires:
The organiser of a medical conference must notify the Director-General of Health at least 30 working days before the opening of the conference with the following information:
- Confirmation that one or more medicines not approved under sections 20, 22D, or 23 of the Medicines Act 1981 will be advertised at the medical conference.
- The dates the conference will open and close.
- The location of the conference.
- Whether the medicines have been approved by a recognised regulatory authority.
- Whether applications for approval under sections 20, 22D, or 23 of Medicines Act 1981 have been submitted to the Director-General of Health.
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