Transvaginal mesh products used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse have been quietly banned overnight by Australia’s medical devices regulator, which found the products are too risky.

In an update posted on its website, the Therapeutic Goods Administration said the move followed its review of the latest international studies and an examination of the clinical evidence for each product supplied in Australia.

“Based on this new information, and since the publication by the TGA of the results of review into urogynaecological surgical mesh implants, the TGA is of the belief that the benefits of using transvaginal mesh products in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse do not outweigh the risks these products pose to patients,” a statement from the TGA said.

“The TGA also considers that there is a lack of adequate scientific evidence for it to be satisfied that the risks to patients associated with the use of mesh products as single incision mini-slings for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence are outweighed by their benefits.

“It should be noted that mini-slings are different devices to mid-urethral slings, which are not being removed from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.”

The changes to the register will take effect from 4 January.

Kath Sansom, the founder of the campaign group Sling the Mesh, said the TGA announcement was “proof of the growing realisation of the global scandal of surgical mesh implants”.

“It is yet more proof of worldwide institutional denial and how those tasked with monitoring patient safety have failed on an epic level,” she said.

“We demand the government suspends all pelvic mesh implants while a retrospective audit is carried out to find out the true level of suffering in this country ... thousands have suffered irreversible life-changing injuries.”

Some experts have argued the meshes that should never have been approved by the TGA for the treatment of prolapse. Adjunct Assoc Prof Ken Harvey from Monash University’s school of public health and preventive medicine said: “While it’s good the TGA has finally acted, it has taken far too long to remove these devices from the market, which raises many questions about the regulation of medical devices.”

He added: “All grist for the current class action law suits.”

More than 700 Australian women launched a federal court class action against the medical giant Johnson & Johnson in August, saying the transvaginal mesh medical implants had left them in debilitating pain and unable to have sex. Similar class actions have been launched worldwide. The decision in the Australian class action is expected to be handed down by the federal court next year.

It comes as draft guidelines issued by the UK’s health watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, recommended vaginal mesh operations to treat prolapse should be banned as a routine treatment in England.

A Senate inquiry into use of transvaginal mesh products is due to deliver its findings in the coming weeks.

The chief executive of the Health Issues Centre, Danny Vadasz, said removing transvaginal mesh products from the register was a welcome step but he was concerned the devices would still be available under the special access scheme. The scheme allows unapproved therapeutic goods to be approved for use in patients on a case-by-case basis.

“We think there are ample reasons for a total ban,” Vadasz said. “We can’t imagine which surgeon would still want to use mesh in the absence of evidence and with so many injured women.

“But, in the absence of a full ban, we must have a strong regulatory framework for special access, there must be timely public reporting on who is applying for these, for what indications and how many women are still receiving them.”