Most of what matters about a supplement is not on the front of the pack. The big words on the front are marketing; the useful information is on the back — what is actually in it, how much, how to take it, who should not take it, and whether it is listed with the Australian regulator.
Serving size first: what do the numbers refer to?
Every amount on a label refers to a serving — and a serving is not always one tablet. Check three things together: how many capsules, tablets or scoops make one serving; how many servings you take per day; and whether the listed amounts refer to one unit, one serving, or the full daily dose.
This matters when you compare products. A product listing 1,000 mg of an ingredient per serve can be weaker than one listing 500 mg per capsule taken twice a day, once you do the maths on the full daily dose.
Active ingredients: name, form and amount
Active ingredients are the ingredients included for their therapeutic role, and the label should state the name and quantity of every one. Look for:
- Exact names, not vague phrases. “Magnesium” is less useful than “magnesium citrate” or “magnesium glycinate” — different forms can behave differently.
- “Equivalent to” amounts. Some labels list a raw amount and then the amount it is equivalent to providing, such as an extract “equivalent to 2,000 mg of dried herb”. The equivalent amount is usually the more useful number.
- Everything disclosed. If a blend lists ingredients without amounts — a “proprietary blend” with only a total — you cannot tell how much of each ingredient you are getting.
- One ingredient, several products. The same ingredient can appear in a multivitamin, a magnesium product and a sleep formula. Add up your total intake across everything you take.
Directions and warnings
Directions tell you how much to take, how often, and whether to take it with food. Some also carry a time limit, such as a maximum duration of use. Follow the label rather than a seller’s webpage or an influencer’s video. If the directions are unclear, ask a pharmacist before you start.
Warnings are the part of the label most people skip, and the part that most often matters. They can cover pregnancy or breastfeeding, use in children, interactions with medicines, maximum durations of use, and when to seek healthcare advice. Warnings can differ between two products that look almost identical, so read the current label every time — including when you repurchase a product you have used before, because labels change.
One real example shows why this matters. Vitamin B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy — tingling, burning or numbness, usually in the hands or feet. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requires products with more than 10 mg of vitamin B6 per daily dose to warn you to stop taking the product if you notice those symptoms and see a healthcare practitioner as soon as possible. The risk cannot be ruled out below 50 mg a day, and B6 often hides under names such as pyridoxine hydrochloride or pyridoxal 5-phosphate. From 1 June 2027, oral products supplying more than 50 mg and up to 200 mg per daily dose become pharmacist-only medicines.
The AUST number: what it is and what it is not
Medicines approved for supply in Australia display an Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) number on the label. It starts with “AUST” and is followed by L, L(A) or R:
- AUST L — a listed medicine. Lower-risk, using only pre-approved ingredients and claims. The TGA does not individually assess listed medicines for efficacy before they go on sale.
- AUST L(A) — an assessed listed medicine. The TGA has assessed the evidence behind its claims before sale.
- AUST R — a registered medicine. Fully assessed by the TGA for safety, quality and efficacy before sale.
You can search an AUST number on the TGA website to confirm the product name, sponsor and approved indications match what you are holding.
What an AUST L number does not mean is that the TGA has tested the product or confirmed it works. It means the product is on the register, uses permitted ingredients and claims, and the sponsor must hold evidence for its claims. There is a separate guide on this site explaining what to check before you buy a supplement in Australia.
Some products also carry a “TGA assessed” symbol. Only AUST L(A) and approved AUST R complementary medicines can use it — and they are not required to. Its absence does not mean a product is unregistered.
Other ingredients, allergens, expiry and storage
The label should also list non-active ingredients and allergens. Substances such as egg and fish must be declared where likely to be present, so check the allergen statement every time — formulations change without the front of the pack changing. Check the expiry date before you buy, especially online, and keep the batch number: it is how the product is identified if you ever need to report a problem.
Imported products and the 60-second checklist
A product bought from an overseas website may carry another country’s label and rules. If it has no AUST number and is not a food, be cautious: it may not be approved for supply in Australia, and its quality and contents have not been checked against Australian standards.
Before you buy, run through this list:
- Serving size and daily dose — what do the amounts refer to?
- Active ingredients — exact names, forms and amounts for the full daily dose?
- Directions — clear, and do they match how you plan to use it?
- Warnings — anything that applies to you, your medicines or your situation?
- AUST number — present, and does the ARTG entry match the product?
- Expiry date, storage and batch number — all present and in date?
- Total intake — have you added this ingredient up across everything you take?
If any answer is unclear, ask a pharmacist. It is a free, quick check, and it is exactly what pharmacists are there for.
This article is general information only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional. If you take medication or have a health condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement.
Affiliate disclosure: BPD Community may earn a commission if you buy through a link on this site, at no extra cost to you.
Sources
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), “What’s on my medicine label?” — active ingredients, directions, warnings, allergen declarations, ARTG/AUST numbers, TGA assessed symbol. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/consumer-information-and-resources/medicines-safety-and-general-information-consumers/whats-my-medicine-label
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), “How we regulate medicines” — AUST L, AUST L(A) and AUST R; pre-market efficacy assessment; ARTG. https://www.Tga.gov.au/products/medicines/how-we-regulate-medicines
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), “How are vitamins regulated in Australia?” — listed medicines, pre-approved ingredients and indications, sponsor evidence obligations. https://www.tga.gov.au/news/blog/how-are-vitamins-regulated-australia
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), “Medicines containing vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal or pyridoxamine)” — warning statement for products over 10 mg/day, peripheral neuropathy risk, rescheduling from 1 June 2027. https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-updates/medicines-containing-vitamin-b6-pyridoxine-pyridoxal-or-pyridoxamine
- Elite Vitamin Zone, “How to Read a Vitamin & Mineral Supplement Label” — label sections, “equivalent to” amounts, warnings. https://www.elitevitaminzone.com.au/vitamin-mineral-supplement-label-guide