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Australia pulls Nurofen products over 'misleading claims' Reckitt Benckiser defends Nurofen Australia pain range packaging
(35 minutes later)
An Australian court has ordered products in the Nurofen pain relief range off the shelves, saying the UK-based manufacturer misled consumers. The UK maker of the Nurofen "specific pain" range of products has defended their packaging, after an Australian court ordered the products off shelves.
The court said products marketed to treat specific pains, such as migraines, were identical to one another. It said the UK-based Reckitt Benckiser had misled consumers.
Research also found the products were sold for almost double the price of Nurofen's standard product. The court said products marketed to treat specific pains, such as migraine, were identical to one another.
Manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser said the case related only to Australia. Nurofen said the products had been "designed to help the consumer easily navigate our range", particularly in groceries where there was no pharmacy.
It said the ruling would not be applicable in other countries, including the UK. "Consumer research indicates that 9 in 10 people (88%) look for pain relief for a specific type of pain (eg headache, migraine, back pain) and 7 in 10 (71%) say pain-specific packs help them decide which product is best for their needs," said Dr Aomesh Bhatt, regulatory and medical affairs director for Nurofen.
"As such all Nurofen products remain available and there will be no changes to packaging," they said.
The UK consumer association Which? said it was not an issue it was planning to investigate.
Reckitt Benckiser said it would comply with the Australian court order and that it "did not set out to mislead consumers".
Active ingredientActive ingredient
The products affected by the order include Nurofen Back Pain, Nurofen Period Pain, Nurofen Migraine Pain and Nurofen Tension Headache. The products affected by the Australian court order include Nurofen Back Pain, Nurofen Period Pain, Nurofen Migraine Pain and Nurofen Tension Headache.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) watchdog had brought the matter to court earlier this year.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) watchdog had brought the matter to court earlier this year.
The ACCC said the court had found that the firm had "engaged in misleading conduct in contravention of the Australian consumer law by representing that its Nurofen Specific Pain products were each formulated to treat a specific type of pain, when the products are identical".The ACCC said the court had found that the firm had "engaged in misleading conduct in contravention of the Australian consumer law by representing that its Nurofen Specific Pain products were each formulated to treat a specific type of pain, when the products are identical".
Each product contained the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine 342mg.Each product contained the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine 342mg.
And the products were found to be "no more effective at treating the type of pain described on its packaging than any of the other Nurofen specific pain products". And the ACCC said the products were found to be "no more effective at treating the type of pain described on its packaging than any of the other Nurofen specific pain products".
ACCC research also found the products were sold for almost double the price of Nurofen's standard product.
No UK changes
Manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser said the case related only to Australia, and that the ruling would not be applicable in other countries, including the UK.
"As such all Nurofen products remain available and there will be no changes to packaging," they said.
The UK consumer association Which? said it was not an issue it was planning to investigate.
Reckitt Benckiser added that it would comply with the Australian court order and that it "did not set out to mislead consumers".
Court costs
The Federal Court of Australia said the products must be taken off Australian shelves within three months.The Federal Court of Australia said the products must be taken off Australian shelves within three months.
The retail price for each of the pain-specific products was also found to be "significantly higher than that of other comparable analgesic products which also act as general pain relievers," the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said. The retail price for each of the pain-specific products was also found to be "significantly higher than that of other comparable analgesic products which also act as general pain relievers," the ACCC added.
Reckitt Benckiser is a British-based consumer goods manufacturer and makes products including Nurofen, Dettol and Harpic, among others. Reckitt Benckiser makes a vast range of household products, including Nurofen, Dettol and Harpic, among others.
It has been ordered to publish correction notices in newspapers and on its website and to pay the ACCC's court costs.It has been ordered to publish correction notices in newspapers and on its website and to pay the ACCC's court costs.
This story has been amended to clarify that the products in question were different from the standard Nurofen product.This story has been amended to clarify that the products in question were different from the standard Nurofen product.