Consumer watchdog seeks heavier penalty for Nurofen manufacturer

Medicines

26 May 2016

The ACCC has launched an appeal into the size of a recent Federal Court penalty for Nurofen manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser, ­saying it fails to act as an ­adequate deterrent.

The Federal Court delivered a $1.7 million penalty to the pharmaceutical company last month for misleading customers in its pain relief packaging.

However the consumer watch dog says the fine should be nearer $6 million.

“The ACCC will submit to the Full Court of the Federal Court that $1.7 million in penalties imposed on a company the size of Reckitt Benckiser does not act as an adequate deterrent and might be viewed as simply a cost of doing business,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“This is particularly the case when the judge found that Reckitt Benckiser had made many millions in profits from sales of 5.9 million units of these products at around 8,500 outlets during the relevant period.”

 

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