Activance claims now Sanctioned

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Sam Cohen of IHRB has been telling clients and the Department of Fair Trading that he has been selling Activance. This is a product whose claims have been Sanctioned by the Complaints Resolution Panel. After the Health Care Complaints Commission issued Mr Sam Cohen with a Prohibition Order, telling him that he is prohibited from supplying or selling any medical or scheduled medications or poisons, Mr Cohen has been telling the Authorities and his clients that he has stopped selling Minoxidil, and instead, he is selling Activance. Of all the products in the world, why did Mr Cohen decide to sell Activance at sky-high rip-off prices? Perhaps it’s because Activance had claimed that it could grow hair. Sadly, these claims are unverified, and the Complaints Resolution Panel has issued Sanctions to the makers of Activance. Click here to read the Panel’s determination.

An excerpt of a memo from Mr Sam Cohen to a client, in which Mr Cohen says that he has been selling Activance. The Laurel mentioned in the note refers to an officer from the Department of Fair Trading with whom I spoke about Sam Cohen and his business practices.

The Complaints Resolution Panel had noted that Activance had made a range of claims, including:

“revives thinning, damaged, and lifeless hair”

“the regenerative power of Rhodanide”

“stimulate and revive”

“thicken and moisturise”

“strengthen and protect”

“the proven scientific solution to thinning, damaged, and lifeless hair for both men and women”

“your hair not only looks and feels better, you actually grow thicker, stronger, healthier hair”

“Rhodanide… is a vitamin-like nutrient and a natural regenerative factor required by hair to improve growth and quality”

“your hair’s natural Rhodanide levels are constantly depleted by day-to-day washing, styling and chemical treatments, as well as factors such as poor diet, stress, illness, ageing and harsh environmental conditions like UV rays. This can leave your hair looking dull, lifeless, and damaged, and eventually lead to premature hair loss”

“Activance works by instantly boosting the Rhodanide levels in your hair”

“scientific studies prove that an increase in Rhodanide levels regenerates your hair follicles and revives thinning and lifeless hair”

“it also lengthens your hair’s growth cycle and promotes an anti-ageing effect by combating free radicals and other harmful molecules”

“an essential tool in the fight against the onset and progression of hair loss, Activance is particularly suited to people with thinning hair”

“Activance Hair Stimulant is the original, proven, and stabilised formula developed and patented by German scientists after 50 years of research and 6 years of clinical studies”

“recommended by a wide range of hair care specialists including dermatologists, doctors, trichologists, and hairdressers”

“the fast and effective solution to thinning, damaged, and lifeless hair”

“by blocking the negative effects of DHT and combating free radicals and other harmful molecules that damage your hair, Rhodanide revitalises your hair follicles, lengthens their growth cycle, and naturally reduces premature hair loss”.

It stated that “after 4 weeks, 75% of users report that their rate of hair loss reduced or stopped altogether” and “after 6 months 80% of users regrew their hair.”

The Complaints Resolution Panel had asked the makers of Activance to withdraw such statements and representations. The Panel also told the makers to:

Mr Cohen sells Activance in 100% blank white bottles without any label or marks on it so that his clients have no idea what they are buying at exorbitant prices. A photo of the blank bottles is shown below.

“..withdraw any representations that Activance Hair Stimulant and Activance Hair Revitaliser products have benefits connected with reviving thinning, damaged, and lifeless hair, regenerating hair, stimulating hair or hair growth, thickening hair, strengthening hair, causing the growth of thicker, stronger, healthier hair, improving hair growth and quality, reducing, preventing or reversing hair loss or premature hair loss, boosting levels of rhodanide in hair, lengthening the growth cycle of hair, having anti-ageing effects, combating free radicals and other harmful molecules, or blocking the negative effects of DHT or dihydrotestosterone, or that they are were clinically or scientifically proven to have such effects, together with any representations that the products are safe or free of side effects, or that they are for any therapeutic use as defined in the Act…”
We further read in the Determination that ‘…the Panel was satisfied that the advertisements contained many representations that had not been verified, were not accurate and balanced, were likely to arouse unwarranted expectations, and were misleading. These included the representations that the products could have benefits such as reviving thinning, damaged, and lifeless hair, regenerating hair, stimulating hair or hair growth, thickening hair, strengthening hair, causing the growth of thicker, stronger, healthier hair, improving hair growth and quality, reducing, preventing or reversing hair loss or premature hair loss, boosting levels of rhodanide in hair, lengthening the growth cycle of hair, having anti-ageing effects, combating free radicals and other harmful molecules, blocking the negative effects of DHT or dihydrotestosterone, were clinically or scientifically proven to have such effects, or were proven to have such effects because of 50 years of research and six years of clinical studies.’

Sam Cohen’s dubious bottles are sold totally blank, against all the rules. No label, no markings, no ingredients. Completely against TGA requirements.

Of course Mr Cohen says that he adds his exclusive secret natural extracts to Activance. We cannot believe that Mr Cohen has any such efficacious and therapeutic product that regrows hair. It is a legal requirement that anyone making such therapeutic claims provide proof. Mr Cohen has never proved the existence of his efficacious ingredients. Instead, he misleads people by saying that he has letters and statements. All rubbish. They do not mean a thing. His statements are red herrings and deceptive and misleading! Rather than listen to him protesting his innocence, just say to him, ‘Dear Mr Cohen, the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) requires that therapeutic good be Registered. Yours were never Registered. The TGA requires that you label your bottles with the ingredients. Your ingredients have never been listed. For the past ten years you have been making claims, which the Complaints Resolution Panel has Sanctioned. You are not permitted to make the claims you have been making. The Panel asked you to publish retractions. You have not done this. All ads must have Advertising Approvals. Yours, for the past ten years, have never had Advertising Approvals, despite being warned about this in 2007. So Mr Cohen, if you want me to believe anything you say, please prove it to me, as is required by law. Prove that your secret ingredients exist and that they work (according to scientific standards, and not according your say-so). List your ingredients as is required by the TGA. Otherwise, please stop speaking.’