Navigating the Cosmetic Advertising Crackdown Before September Guidelines Hit
- Written by Alison Lee
Earlier this year, The Daily Telegraph published a story highlighting the widening regulatory gap between media outlets and social influencers when it comes to cosmetic promotions. While major publishers like News Corp have been fined, many influencers are still “flying under the radar” but that’s changing. Enforcement is catching up.
What Small Businesses Should Do Now
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Audit All Content - Review every piece of advertising across your website, emails, flyers, and social media posts. Remove or revise anything that names products, lists prices, uses industry product slang, or includes testimonials.
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Educate Your Team & Talent - Ensure your staff, social media managers, and influencers understand the guidelines. If they’re writing captions or managing ad campaigns, they must know what’s compliant—and what’s not.
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Work With Compliance Experts - Services like ClearAds exist to help businesses navigate these rules. As a member of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Consultative Committee, we work closely with regulators and understand how the law is evolving. Having your content pre-reviewed can not only prevent penalties but demonstrate good faith to the regulator.
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Plan for the Long Term - Don’t just aim for short-term compliance. Build a marketing strategy that is ethical, educational, and aligned with patient safety. In an industry under scrutiny, trust is the most valuable currency you have.
The cosmetic injectables industry is full of innovation and opportunity, but it’s also in the spotlight like never before. As September approaches, small businesses need to act swiftly to protect their brands and clients, strengthen their advertising practices clients, and contribute to industry excellence.
Compliance isn’t about stifling creativity, it’s about lifting standards across the board. With the right knowledge and support, you can confidently promote your services while remaining on the right side of the law.
By Alison Lee, Director of ClearAds and member of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Consultative Committee (TGACC).
ABOUT CLEARADS AUSTRALIA
ClearAds is an Australian advertising review and classification service that helps ensure advertising complies with broadcasting codes and regulations before they go to air, online or to print.
