Anti-ageing website is slapped with $60,000 worth of fines for advertising a ‘preventative treatment for coronavirus’
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration issued five separate infringements
- Victoria-based SGC Products were fined $63,000 on Saturday by the TGA
- The TGA allege SGC Products owned and operated the ‘Dr Ageless’ website
- They allege the website advertised products that could fight against COVID-19
An anti-ageing website has been slapped with more than $60,000 worth of fines for advertising products that it claimed could protect against coronavirus.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration issued five separate infringement notices totalling $63,000 to Victoria-based company, SGC Products on Friday.
The infringements were issued for the advertising of products in relation to COVID-19 on a website named ‘Dr Ageless.’
The TGA alleges SGC Products operated the website which advertised Thymosin Alpha-1 and Thymosin Beta-4 peptides and claimed they were a ‘breakthrough preventative treatment for coronavirus.’
The Therapeutic Goods Administration issued five separate infringement notices totalling $63,000 to Victoria-based company, SGC Products on Saturday in relation to a website named ‘Dr Ageless’ (pictured)
Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Professor John Skerritt, said the TGA has not registered any products as a preventative treated for COVID-19.
‘We allege an advertisement that claims a particular medicine can prevent COVID-19 could put lives at risk and is likely to be illegal,’ Professor Skerritt said.
‘Businesses are responsible for the content of their advertising – and just because they quote another source it does not remove this responsibility.’
Since the infringement notices were filed, the allegedly unlawful advertisements have been removed from the website.
The TGA alleges SGC Products operated the website which advertised Thymosin Alpha-1 and Thymosin Beta-4 peptides and claimed they were a ‘breakthrough preventative treatment for coronavirus’ (stock image)
Dr Ageless claims on their website they specialise in ‘all aspects of disease prevention’ and offer ‘scientifically proven anti-ageing, weight loss, muscle gain and recovery treatments.’
The website also allegedly advertised products that were effective against ‘cancerous cells.’
‘Under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 representations relating to the treatment, cure, prevention, diagnosis, monitoring or susceptibility to cancer are prohibited representations,’ the TGA said in a statement.
Dr Ageless have been contacted for comment.
The TGA warned consumers to be on alert for any businesses that claim they have products which can prevent or fight against COVID-19.
Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Professor John Skerritt, said the TGA has not registered any products as a preventative treated for COVID-19 (pictured: People tested for coronavirus in Sydney on July 30)
This comes after the TGA issued three infringements on Friday totalling $39,960 to Melbourne-based company Italian Princess Coffee Brands, who were trading as Zafe Zone.
The company is alleged to have promoted its disinfectant as effective against coronavirus, without having the necessary authorisation from the TGA.
It is also alleged Zafe Zone falsely advertised the product had been approved by the TGA.
‘Promoting disinfectants that have not been subjected to the TGA’s regulatory framework has the potential to put the public at risk,’ Professor Skerritt said.
‘If businesses are thinking about diversifying to include disinfectants, hand sanitisers or other therapeutic goods, we encourage them to look at the legal requirements for advertising on our website, seek assistance from a legal or regulatory adviser, or contact us if they’re uncertain.’
The TGA warned consumers to be on alert for any businesses that claim they have products which can prevent or fight against COVID-19 (pictured: People lining up at a pop-up coronavirus testing clinic in Rushcutters Bay)