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Hand sanitisers

In Australia, hand sanitisers are regulated either as cosmetics or therapeutic goods depending on their ingredients and the claims made about their effects.

Hand sanitisers are regulated as a cosmetic or therapeutic good

In Australia, hand sanitisers are regulated either as 'general consumer products' (cosmetics) or therapeutic goods depending on their ingredients and claims made about their effects.

Read about the difference between hand sanitisers that are regulated as cosmetics and therapeutic goods on the TGA website.

Our decision tool can also help you work out if your product is a cosmetic.

Products making claims about viruses, including COVID-19, are NOT cosmetics. More information about products making claims in relation to COVID-19 is available on the TGA website.

If your hand sanitiser is a cosmetic product

If your product is formulated in Australia by blending (mixing) ingredients that you bought locally in Australia, you do not need to register with us for this purpose.

If you want to import your products, or if you are importing chemicals to make hand sanitisers, you must:

  • Register with us
  • Make sure that all of the chemicals are allowed for this use in Australia

Read about regulatory obligations for importing or manufacturing cosmetics.

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