Audio By Carbonatix
An Australian court has ordered products in the Nurofen pain relief range off the shelves, saying the UK-based manufacturer misled consumers.
The court said products marketed to treat specific pains, such as migraines, were identical to one another.
Research also found the products were sold for almost double the price of Nurofen's standard product.
Manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser said the case related only to Australia.
It said the ruling would not be applicable in other countries, including the UK.
Reckitt Benckiser said it would comply with the Australian court order and that it "did not set out to mislead consumers".
The products affected by the order include Nurofen Back Pain, Nurofen Period Pain, Nurofen Migraine Pain and Nurofen Tension Headache.
The watchdog said the court had found each product "was formulated to treat a particular type of pain; and solely or specifically treated a particular type of pain" - but that each product contained the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine 342mg.
However the products were found to be "no more effective at treating the type of pain described on its packaging than any of the other Nurofen specific pain products."
Australia's consumer watchdog brought the matter to court earlier this year.
The Federal Court of Australia said the products must be taken off Australian shelves within three months.
The retail price for each of the pain-specific products was also found to be "significantly higher than that of other comparable analgesic products which also act as general pain relievers," the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACC) said.
Reckitt Benckiser is a British-based consumer goods manufacturer and makes products including Nurofen, Dettol and Harpic, among others.
It has been ordered to publish correction notices in newspapers and on its website and to pay the ACC's court costs.
This story has been amended to clarify that the products in question were different from the standard Nurofen product.
Latest Stories
-
SOS Children’s Villages Ghana deepens partnership with Gender Ministry
2 minutes -
Gender Ministry celebrates Christina Koch, reaffirms commitment to empowering girls
15 minutes -
Live stream: Newsfile digs into E&P’s takeover of Damang Mines, OSP powers and Anti-LGBTQ Bill
23 minutes -
Moody’s maintains Ghana’s rating at Caa1, revises outlook to positive
60 minutes -
Zambia elevates tourism education to national priority as President Hichilema backs continental summit
2 hours -
Activa promotes credit insurance to boost SME export growth
2 hours -
ILTM Africa 2026 opens doors to inbound and outbound luxury travel in Cape TownÂ
2 hours -
“BP Soul Travel and Tours scored the highest marks” – Sports Minister Kofi Adams endorses agency for World Cup travel
2 hours -
‘At the age of 12, I was teaching people and collecting money from them’ – Forty Under 40 Awards
3 hours -
I broke my virginity at the age of 26 after university – Richard Abbey Jnr.
4 hours -
Sacked for fees, saved by faith: The untold story of Forty Under 40 Awards founder Richard Abbey Jnr
5 hours -
GCB Bank surges GH¢0.45, ETI gains GH¢0.06 as GSE ends week higher
5 hours -
Two teens jailed 55 years for robbery
6 hours -
UDS demands apology for MPhil student wrongly branded as Tamale robber
6 hours -
“We don’t sell fish!” – Tema Shipyard CEO hits back over dead fish discovery
7 hours