Australian Dental Industry Association

ADIA Code of Practice

Guidance for ethical interactions between suppliers and oral health professionals — keeping decisions evidence-based and patient-centred.

Along with other associations in the therapeutic products sector, ADIA publishes guidance for the interaction between suppliers and healthcare professionals. At the heart of the Code is that promotional activity must not encourage a dental professional to do other than select patient treatment options wisely, only when necessary, and to use dental products safely and effectively.

The Code safeguards the trust between the dental industry and the dental profession by discouraging inappropriate promotion that is not in patients’ best interests and that may increase the cost of healthcare.

Code of Practice

Key documents

Code of Practice

Background to development of the Code

ADIA developed the framework governing interactions between dental product suppliers and dental professionals in response to Australian Government concerns about self-regulation across therapeutic industries. Through ADIA’s Parliamentary Engagement Strategy and constructive relationships with key parliamentarians, the industry preserved a self-regulatory model rather than transferring promotional oversight to the TGA.

Code of Practice

Underpinning principles & businesses covered

Code of Practice

General principles of the Code

• Members must comply with all relevant legislation at all times.
• Members must not engage in unethical behaviour, misleading or deceptive conduct, or unfair or unconscionable practices.
• Members must respect the ethical requirements and professional codes that apply to dental professionals.

These principles complement, but do not replace, statutory requirements such as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).

Code of Practice

Quality use of therapeutic goods

• Dental professionals choose suitable therapeutic goods only when necessary and in the patient’s best interests.
• Therapeutic goods are used safely and effectively.
• Diagnostic and treatment options are selected wisely, based on evidence and patient need — free from undue influence.
• Decisions are made independently of any inappropriate inducement or offer by the dental industry.

In practice, businesses must not offer incentives connected to the ordering, purchase or supply of therapeutic products that would likely influence a clinician’s diagnostic or treatment decisions.

Code of Practice

Making a complaint

1. Verify coverage: Confirm the business is an ADIA member and/or an exhibitor at an ADIA-managed exhibition.
2. Check the principles: Review the Code’s underpinning principles and identify which may have been breached.
3. Collect evidence: Gather supporting materials (e.g. ads, promotional literature, screenshots/printouts of web content).
4. Lodge your complaint: Write to ADIA clearly identifying it as a formal complaint, the business, and how the activity breaches the Code. You can request the complaint form via email.