Australian CCC grants interim authorization for Medicines Australia's 'transparent' Code of Conduct

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted interim authorization to trade body Medicines Australia for edition 17 of its Code of Conduct, a voluntary industry code of conduct for the prescription medicines industry in Australia.

Medicines Australia requested an extension of time to provide its response to the ACCC’s draft determination. As a result, the ACCC said it will not be able to make a final determination in relation to the substantive application for authorization of edition 18 of the code before the existing authorization of edition 17 of the Code expires on January 11, 2015.

ACCC Commissioner Jill Walker said: “The ACCC considers that interim authorization will maintain the status quo and avoid the uncertainty that may arise if the existing authorization is allowed to lapse. Interim authorization will also enable the ACCC to finalize its decision regarding granting authorization to edition 18 of the Code, including any conditions of authorization.”