RB ‘did not set out to mislead’
December 15, 2015
Reckitt-benckiser (RB) says
its “specific-pain” range had been
launched with the aim of helping
consumers navigate their pain relief
options, “particularly within the
grocery environment where there is
no healthcare professional to assist
decision making”.
In a statement following the
ACCC’s confirmation that the
products will be removed from
retail shelves within three months
(PD yesterday), RB spokesperson
Montse Pena said the company did
not set out to mislead consumers.
“Nurofen has co-operated with
the ACCC in relation to these
proceedings and will fully comply
with the court order made today.
“Nurofen is committed to the
quality use of medicines and
promoting and protecting the
health of Australians,” Pena said.
A further hearing will determine
penalties in relation to the case,
with Reckitt Benckiser potentially
facing millions of dollars in fines.
The company will be permitted
to use the same packaging and
product names for nine months
after the withdrawal as long as a
label is attached confirming that
the products are equally effective
for other types of pain, while new
packaging is developed.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said
the court decision was a win for
consumers, who could potentially
overdose by taking several products
from the range without realising
they are in fact identical.
MEANWHILE the issue has gone
global, with the UK Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency also commenting on
the ruling which does not affect
products in Britain.
RB sells pain-specific products in
the UK, including Nurofen Migraine
Pain, Nurofen Tension Headache
and Nurofen Express Period Pain.
A spokesperson told the BBC
that all Nurofen products remain
available in the UK “and there will
be no changes to packaging”.
The MHRA said that for OTC
medicines “informative names are
permitted to help patients select an
appropriate product without input
from a health professional”.
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