# How to Search the ARTG and Read an ARTG Number > Source: https://shakalakaa.com/au/resources/tga-artg-search · Updated: 2026-10-18 · Market: AU Resource · Product Check · Australia # How to Search the ARTG and Read an ARTG Number Search the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, read the AUST number on a label, and know what a listing does and doesn't tell you. Last updated October 2026 Quick answer To check a therapeutic good in Australia, search the TGA's Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) by product name, sponsor, licence, active ingredient or ARTG number. The AUST R, AUST L or AUST L(A) number on a medicine label is its ARTG number. Unless exempt, goods not on the ARTG can't be supplied in Australia. Guide by shakalakaa. ## What is the ARTG? The Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is the Therapeutic Goods Administration's public database of therapeutic goods that can be legally supplied in Australia. You can search it on the [TGA ARTG search page↗ (opens in a new tab)](https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg). The TGA's [ARTG overview↗ (opens in a new tab)](https://www.tga.gov.au/products/regulations-all-products/about-australian-register-therapeutic-goods-artg) says entries hold the product name, formulation details, and sponsor and manufacturer details. Search results can include Consumer Medicine Information, Product Information and Public Summary documents, though not every CMI or PI is online. The TGA notes that the ARTG records what a product contains and how it is classified, but is not meant to give guidance, advice or recommendations about it. **Last updated:** October 2026 · **Last checked:** 19 October 2026. ## How do I search the ARTG? The ARTG covers both medicines and medical devices. These steps follow the TGA's guide to [searching the ARTG↗ (opens in a new tab)](https://www.tga.gov.au/products/regulations-all-products/about-australian-register-therapeutic-goods-artg/searching-australian-register-therapeutic-goods-artg): 1. Find the AUST R, AUST L or AUST L(A) number on the medicine label, if there is one. This is the product's ARTG number. 2. Open the TGA ARTG search page. 3. Enter the ARTG number, the product name, the sponsor's name, licence details or an active ingredient in the search box. 4. Open the matching entry and its public summary. Check that the product name and sponsor match the pack or the supplier's documents. 5. Note the ARTG start date, which is when the product was added, and the effective date, which is when the latest change to the entry took effect. 6. For more complex searches on a larger screen, use the TGA's ARTG search visualisation tool. 7. If the product isn't on the ARTG, check whether it is exempt, or ask the supplier for its ARTG number. ## What does an ARTG number mean? The prefix of the number tells you how the TGA regulates the medicine. According to the TGA's page on [how medicines are regulated↗ (opens in a new tab)](https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/consumer-information-and-resources/medicines-safety-and-general-information-consumers/how-we-regulate-medicines), registered medicines are fully assessed before sale, while listed medicines are lower risk and are not individually assessed for efficacy before they go on the market. | Attribute | Listed (AUST L) | Assessed listed (AUST L(A)) | Registered (AUST R) | |---|---|---|---| | Pre-market efficacy assessment | No | Yes | Yes | | Ingredients | Pre-approved list only | Pre-approved list only | Assessed pre-market | | Indications (what it says it treats) | Pre-approved list only | Assessed pre-market | Assessed pre-market | | Can use the 'TGA assessed' claim | No | Yes | Registered complementary medicines only | All prescription medicines and most over-the-counter medicines are registered, while most complementary medicines are listed. Whatever the prefix, the medicine must be made in a licensed or approved facility under good manufacturing practice (GMP). Listed medicines can make only low-level claims, such as relieving throat irritation. ## Why might a product not be on the ARTG? Some therapeutic goods are exempt from inclusion in the ARTG, but must still meet the other legal requirements for therapeutic goods. The exempt goods are set out in Schedules 5 and 5A of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990. A product can also leave the ARTG. The TGA says entries stay on the register unless the sponsor asks for cancellation, safety concerns lead to regulatory action, or the sponsor doesn't pay the required charges. Special access schemes for unapproved goods can't be used for commercial supply. ## Need help marketing a regulated health business in Australia? A product's ARTG status shapes what its advertising can claim, so it's worth checking before any campaign brief. shakalakaa runs [healthcare marketing in Australia](https://shakalakaa.com/au/industries/healthcare-marketing), and our [AHPRA ad checker](https://shakalakaa.com/au/tools/ahpra-ad-checker) helps health practitioners review ad copy before it goes live. Related ## Keep exploring [industryHealthcare marketing Australia Marketing for clinics, practices and health brands.](https://shakalakaa.com/au/industries/healthcare-marketing)[toolAHPRA ad checker Review health ad copy against the advertising guidelines.](https://shakalakaa.com/au/tools/ahpra-ad-checker)[guideAHPRA cosmetic advertising guide What cosmetic practitioners can and can't advertise.](https://shakalakaa.com/au/blog/ahpra-cosmetic-advertising-guide-australia) FAQ ## Frequently Asked Questions. ### Does inclusion in the ARTG mean the TGA recommends a product? No. The TGA says the ARTG records a product's contents and classification but is not intended to give guidance, advice or recommendations. Listed (AUST L) medicines are not assessed for efficacy before sale. ### Can an AUST L medicine say 'TGA assessed'? No. Only assessed listed (AUST L(A)) medicines and registered complementary medicines may use the 'TGA assessed' claim, because their efficacy has been assessed before sale. ### Are medical devices on the ARTG? Yes. The TGA's ARTG search covers both medicines and medical devices. You can search by product name, sponsor, licence details, active ingredient or ARTG number. ### What is the difference between the ARTG start date and the effective date? The start date is when the product was added to the ARTG. The effective date is when the latest change to the entry came into effect.