1. Health claims

2. Therapeutic Goods Administration
Is responsible for ensuring that health products are of an acceptable standard
The Therapeutic Goods Act and Therapeutic Goods Advertising code helps regulate health based advertising
Designed to ensure that the advertiser doesn’t mislead the consumer

3. What must advertising contain
Marketing and advertising must contain correct and balanced statements with verified claims. It must not arouse unwarranted and unrealistic expectations of the effectiveness of the product or encourage inappropriate use

4. SCAMwatch
The Australian Competition and Consumer commission (ACCC) developed a website called SCAMwatch which provides information to consumers on how to recognise, report and avoid scams

5. Things to watch out for
Products and services that are only available via mail
Products that claim to treat a range of health concerns
Products that guarantee a cure
Products that require advance payments

6. Consumer rights All goods must be of:
Merchantable quality – this means that they should meet a basic level of quality and continue to work for a reasonable amount of time
Fit for the purpose this means that the product should be able to do the job you were led to believe it would do

7. Match the description of sample on which your buying decision was made – this includes information given in advertising, demonstration, labelling and promotions made by the sales person
Have no defects – goods should be free from faults which affect their merchantable quality

8. Consumer responsibilities
Be well informed
Know how to use/take the product
Talk to person selling the product
Read labels
Research the product

9. Activity Go to www.scamwatch.gov.au
Summarise miracle cures, weight loss scams, fake on line pharmacies
Using the info you have summarised go online and find some of these products, use the info from above assess the validity of their claims