ACCC appeals to raise fine against Nurofen

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says the fine imposed on Reckitt Benckiser should have been at least $6 million, not $1.7 million.

The Nurofen products that claimed to target specfic types of pain. Source: Supplied

The consumer watchdog is appealing what it says is an inadequate fine imposed by the Federal Court against the makers of Nurofen over misplaced claims of targeted pain relief.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says Reckitt Benckiser should have been fined at least $6 million, rather than the $1.7 million imposed, because the company made millions from products it misleadingly claimed were tailored to treat specific pain.

"The ACCC will submit to the Full Court of the Federal Court that $1.7 million in penalties imposed on a company the size of Reckitt Benckiser does not act as an adequate deterrent and might be viewed as simply a cost of doing business," ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said in a statement on Monday.