Aspen Australia

OVERALL
Owned	ZAF
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Pharmaceuticals

Aspen commenced operations in Australia in May 2001 and since then has acquired many established brands of medicines. They operate four manufacturing plants in Australia. Bought the Sigma pharmaceuticals business in 2011, taking over the Herron brand. Aspen acquired a portfolio of 25 products from GSK for the Australian market in 2012. Sold Herron to Perrigo in 2014.

Company Ownership

Aspen Asia Pacific Pty Ltd	AUS	website	email		twitter
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd       owns 100% of Aspen Asia Pacific Pty Ltd	ZAF	website	email
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Based in South Africa, Aspen are Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, and the ninth largest pharmaceutical company in the world. Aspen has businesses in Australia, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and a start-up operation in the United States. Products available in more than 150 countries. GlaxoSmithKline acquired a 19% stake in 2009, which it reduced to 12% in 2013, and further reduced to 6% in 2015.

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Company Assessment

PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Aspen Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
Australian Packaging Covenant signatory Signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a voluntary agreement to encourage waste minimisation. [Source 2017][More on Packaging]		2014 CHOICE Shonky Award Named and shamed in the 2014 CHOICE Shonky Awards. S-26 Gold Toddler and Junior powdered milk formula proclaims it provides 'nutritional support for young kids', even though health professionals advise that toddler and junior milks aren't needed for healthy kids over the age of one. It used the following wording in marketing to retailers in an industry trade magazine: 'Keep mums buying with our extended range of nutritious milk drinks'. [Source 2014][More on Irresponsible Marketing] Breaching advertising codes In 2014 and 2012 the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Complaints Resolution Panel upheld complaints about ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The Panel requested this company withdraw the ads and not to use representations in the ads again. [Source 2014][More on Irresponsible Marketing] MAIF signatory This company is a signatory to the Manufacturers and Importers Agreement 1992 (MAIF), a voluntary self-regulatory code of conduct between the manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. The MAIF Agreement aims to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes, when they are necessary, on the basis of adequate information through appropriate marketing and distribution. [Source 2019][More on Irresponsible Marketing]
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd
	Irresponsible Marketing This company is named and shamed in IBFAN's 2017 report, 'Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2017', evidence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, compiled from June 2014 to June 2017. The report covers 792 Code violations from 79 countries and by 28 companies. [Source 2017][More on Irresponsible Marketing]	Sustainability claims Follow the link to view relevant documents which support this company's sustainability claims. [Source 2015][More on Sustainability Reporting] UN Global Compact participant The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values. [Source 2013][More on Sustainability Reporting]

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Related News

Aspen Pharmacare buys Sigma Pharmaceuticals
16th Dec 2010 — (AUST >> FOREIGN) The ACCC has given the all-clear to South Africa based Aspen Pharmacare to buy Australian company Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd's pharmaceutical division for $900 million. Brands include Herron and Goanna.  [source]