New, clearer medicine labels on their way

Consumers will be able to more easily identify what's in their medicines as new labels are introduced for the first time in more than 15 years.

Active ingredients will be more prominent and placed in the same spot on the label from September, to help people with allergies and to combat accidental overdose.

Substances from crustaceans, fish, eggs, soya, milk and tree nuts will now have to be declared.

"The current labelling can lead to poor medicine use and a number of medicine safety concerns," Health Minister Sussan Ley said on Saturday.

The new labels will gradually appear on prescription medicines, as well as those bought at pharmacists or other outlets.

The change follows five years of industry and public consultations by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which found safety concerns with existing labels, including:

* Accidental overdose when taking multiple medicines at once due to a lack of awareness about the active ingredients.

* Inconsistent placement of information and the use of complex language.

* The potential for administering the wrong medicine due to similarities in medicine branding.

TGA head, Professor John Skerrit said new minimum requirements for the size of text on labels and the layout would make it easier for consumers and medical staff.