Australian legislation requires that therapeutic goods supplied in Australia have an appointed Australian Sponsor responsible for regulatory communication and compliance. ARP provides independent sponsorship services that manage TGA correspondence, maintain required records and support ongoing regulatory obligations. Our approach is evidence led, steady and designed to integrate with existing regulatory and commercial arrangements

If your technology already has:

  • FDA clearance
  • CE marking
  • UKCA certification
  • Other international approvals

ARP can assess how your existing evidence aligns with Australian requirements and identify the most appropriate pathway for Australia. This includes reviewing international documentation, determining whether additional evidence is needed, and advising on the most efficient route to ARTG inclusion.

FAQ:

To support your decision‑making, we’ve outlined some frequently asked questions about Australian Sponsorship and regulatory responsibilities.

An Australian Sponsor is the legally responsible Australian entity for a therapeutic good supplied in Australia.

Australian legislation defines the sponsor as the Australian entity responsible for importing, exporting or manufacturing a therapeutic good, or arranging for those activities to occur. The sponsor manages regulatory communication with the TGA, maintains required sponsor‑held records, ensures ARTG details remain accurate, and oversees compliance across the product lifecycle. These responsibilities include responding to TGA requests, supporting variations, managing post‑market actions and ensuring documentation and communication remain aligned with regulatory expectations.
This role is distinct from commercial distribution, logistics or sales activities. A distributor, freight forwarder or agent acting on behalf of an Australian business is not considered the sponsor under legislation; the sponsor must be the Australian entity legally responsible for the product’s regulatory obligations.

If you require an independent Australian Sponsor to support your regulatory responsibilities, ARP provides experience‑backed regulatory representation.

ARP provides independent Australian Sponsorship with regulatory management grounded in experience.

As sponsor, ARP manages all regulatory communication with the TGA, maintains required sponsor‑held records, and ensures ARTG details remain accurate throughout the product lifecycle. This includes coordinating pre‑submission requirements, supporting ARTG applications and variations, responding to TGA information requests, and managing post‑market obligations such as adverse event reporting, recalls and corrective actions.
We work directly with manufacturers and distributors to ensure regulatory responsibilities are clearly defined, documentation remains aligned with TGA expectations, and communication is handled promptly and consistently. Our role is regulatory, not commercial we do not distribute, market or sell therapeutic goods.

If you need an independent Australian Sponsor with structured, experience‑informed regulatory management, ARP can support your product throughout its lifecycle.

ARP works directly with manufacturers and distributors to ensure regulatory responsibilities are clearly defined and consistently managed.

We coordinate with manufacturers to confirm product details, technical documentation, intended purpose and regulatory classification before submission. During ARTG inclusion and throughout the product lifecycle, we manage all communication with the TGA, respond to information requests, maintain sponsor‑held records and ensure ARTG entries remain accurate.
For distributors, we provide clarity around the separation of commercial and regulatory roles. While distributors may handle logistics, sales and market activities, ARP retains responsibility for regulatory communication, post‑market vigilance, adverse event reporting and any required corrective actions. This structure ensures that commercial operations can proceed without taking on sponsor‑level obligations.

If you need an independent Australian Sponsor who can coordinate effectively with both manufacturers and distributors, ARP provides structured regulatory management throughout the lifecycle of your product.

The sponsor holds regulatory responsibility, while distributors and importers manage commercial and logistical activities.

The Australian Sponsor is the entity legally responsible for the therapeutic good’s regulatory obligations. This includes managing communication with the TGA, maintaining sponsor‑held records, ensuring ARTG details remain accurate, responding to information requests, and overseeing post‑market vigilance and corrective actions.
Distributors and importers, by contrast, handle commercial functions such as logistics, warehousing, sales, marketing and customer support. They may move the product into Australia or supply it within the market, but they do not hold regulatory accountability unless they are also formally appointed as the sponsor.
This separation ensures that commercial operations can proceed without taking on sponsor‑level obligations, and that the TGA has a clearly identified Australian entity responsible for regulatory communication and compliance.

If you need an independent Australian Sponsor to manage regulatory responsibilities while your distributor or importer focuses on commercial activities, ARP can provide structured, experience‑informed regulatory management.

Yes. Your distributor can manage commercial activities while ARP holds regulatory responsibility.

An Australian distributor may handle logistics, warehousing, sales, marketing and customer support, but these activities do not make them the regulatory sponsor unless they are formally appointed as such. The sponsor must be the Australian entity legally responsible for regulatory communication, maintaining sponsor‑held records, ensuring ARTG accuracy and managing post‑market vigilance.
Many overseas manufacturers prefer to keep regulatory responsibility separate from commercial operations. Appointing ARP as the independent sponsor allows your distributor to focus on market activities while ARP manages all TGA communication, ARTG obligations and post‑market requirements. This structure provides clarity, reduces regulatory burden on commercial partners and ensures the TGA has a clearly identified, accountable Australian entity.

If you need an independent Australian Sponsor while retaining your existing distributor arrangements, ARP can provide structured regulatory management that fits cleanly alongside your commercial operations.

Yes. Manufacturers can change their Australian Sponsor when commercial arrangements shift or when independent regulatory representation is preferred.

A change of sponsor may be needed when moving to a new distributor, restructuring supply chains, or seeking clearer separation between regulatory and commercial roles. The process requires coordination with the TGA, review of documentation, confirmation of responsibilities and ensuring continuity of regulatory oversight. ARTG accuracy must be maintained throughout the transition, and the incoming sponsor must be ready to assume full regulatory responsibility immediately.

If you are considering transferring sponsorship to an independent regulatory partner, ARP can support a structured, compliant transition that maintains regulatory continuity.

Overseas manufacturers must appoint an Australian Sponsor to hold regulatory responsibility for therapeutic goods supplied in Australia.

International manufacturers cannot act as their own sponsor and must nominate an Australian entity to manage TGA communication, maintain sponsor‑held records, ensure ARTG accuracy and oversee post‑market obligations. The appointment process involves confirming product details, establishing regulatory responsibilities, and ensuring the sponsor is prepared to manage compliance throughout the product lifecycle.
ARP provides independent sponsorship that integrates cleanly with your existing regulatory and commercial arrangements, ensuring structured, experience‑informed regulatory management.

If you require an independent Australian Sponsor to support your regulatory responsibilities, ARP provides experience‑backed regulatory representation.


Many international manufacturers initially assume their regulatory representation must be provided by their commercial distributor.

In some situations, manufacturers may prefer to maintain a separation between:

  • Regulatory representation
  • Commercial distribution
  • Market development activities

Maintaining this separation can provide greater flexibility when entering Australia, changing distributors, managing commercial relationships or expanding market access strategies.

Benefits of Independent Sponsorship:

  • Dedicated regulatory oversight
  • Greater commercial flexibility
  • Independent regulatory decision-making
  • Direct visibility of regulatory activities
  • Simplified management of distribution changes
  • Continuous regulatory support throughout the product lifecycle

Our Australian Sponsorship services can be tailored to the needs of individual manufacturers and technologies.

Establish

Helping manufacturers put the right Australian regulatory structure in place.

Represent

Acting as the Australian regulatory interface where appropriate.

Navigate

Supporting interactions associated with Australian market access activities.

Maintain

Assisting manufacturers with ongoing regulatory responsibilities and compliance considerations.

Independent Sponsorship Backed by Regulatory Expertise

  • Medical Devices
  • Biologicals
  • Clinical Evidence
  • Regulatory Strategy
  • Regulatory & Medical Writing
  • Australian Market Access

Planning to Enter the Australian Market?

Speak with ARP to understand how independent Australian Sponsorship, evidence assessment and lifecycle regulatory oversight can support your entry into the Australian market.