If a manufacturer of a product or a supplier of a service believes that their product has a benefit for people with asthma and allergies, they may apply to the National Asthma Council Australia to participate in the Sensitive Choice® program.

Prospective applicants should contact the National Asthma Council Australia to discuss the Sensitive Choice® program and the availability of sponsorship for the category of product they manufacture or supply. Products that will not be considered include pharmaceutical products and any products that claim a cure for asthma. For further information, see Join the Program.

Application Process

Under the formal application process, Applicants must:

• complete a standard comprehensive application form for each product
• provide samples of each product
• provide a full list of ingredients for all products containing chemicals
• demonstrate full compliance with all relevant Australian or New Zealand laws, regulations and applicable standards

Panel Review Process

The National Asthma Council Australia has appointed an independent and voluntary panel of experts to form the Sensitive Choice® Product Advisory Panel, which advises the Council.

The Product Advisory Panel members include:

• a Respiratory physician
• an Allergist
• a person with asthma
• a General practitioner
• a Pharmacist
• an Industrial chemist

Information is also provided to the Panel on request, by representatives of the National Asthma Council Australia or the Asthma & Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand.

This Product Advisory Panel meets regularly to consider applications from manufacturers and distributors of products/services to participate in the Sensitive Choice® program.

Prior to each meeting, the Product Advisory Panel members receive a copy of each application and associated samples to enable them to prepare for the meeting. Applicants are not able to meet any Panel members or discuss their application directly with the Panel.

All applications are confidential and each member of the Product Advisory Panel is required to declare any conflict of interest prior to the Product Advisory Panel meeting. The Panel members do not meet with the applicant.

The Product Advisory Panel considers whether the product is suitable to participate in the program and carry the Sensitive Choice® logo. This involves the Panel being satisfied by evidence produced by the manufacturer or supplier of the product that the product is not harmful and demonstrates a potential benefit for people with asthma or allergies. In most cases the Product Advisory Panel is not able to conduct scientific testing due to the extensive costs involved. The Product Advisory Panel assesses products based on the research supplied and against other current and credible research available worldwide. The Panel may request further information before making a final recommendation to the National Asthma Council.

The Product Advisory Panel’s advice ends with this recommendation. This recommendation is not subject to appeal and the National Asthma Council is under no obligation to accept any recommendation. The Panel has no further involvement in the applicant's potential participation in the Sensitive Choice® program, including the negotiation of any Participation and Sponsorship Agreement.

Participation and Sponsorship Agreement

If a product is recommended for participation in the Sensitive Choice® program by the Product Advisory Panel, the National Asthma Council may offer the applicant an opportunity to participate in the program by negotiating a Participation and Sponsorship Agreement with annual fees. The contract may be exclusive or non-exclusive, at the discretion of the Council.

Participation in the Sensitive Choice® program indicates that the National Asthma Council Australia has assessed the product/service and considers that it is a sensitive choice for people with asthma and allergies based on the evidence provided. Participation does not mean that the product/service is necessarily the best or only product/service available.

If the manufacturer of a non-participating product establishes to the satisfaction of the National Asthma Council, based on scientific evidence, that their product has greater benefit for people with asthma and allergies than a product which is currently part of the Sensitive Choice® program, then the National Asthma Council Australia will consider whether to terminate or renegotiate its existing Participation and Sponsorship Agreement in that category.