CCM: Standards for the Examination and Publication of Drug Advertisements (Exposure draft) 10-24-2016

Summary: On 9 July, 2015, the SAIC issued the exposure drafts of drugs and health care, which belong to the new Advertisement Law. The strict new rules may promote the transformation of marketing mode in health-care and pharmaceutical industries, regulate the competition between enterprises and safeguard the legal rights and interests of consumers.



Source: Internet


On 9 July, 2015, the State Administration for Industry & Commerce of the People's Republic of China (SAIC) issued the Standards for the Examination and Publication of Drug Advertisements (Exposure draft) on its website. The SAIC solicits opinions and suggestions from the society for the standards before 1 Aug., 2015. The standards will come into force on 1 Sept., 2015, while the original standard issued in March 2007 shall be repealed simultaneously.


The standard is regarded as the most strict drug advertisement standard historically. Compared with the old one, there is no fundamental change, but some articles are more meticulous and clear, which may help the government to strengthen the supervision of domestic pharmaceutical market and make it more clearly in responsibilities and rights while dealing with practical issues.
The following new or changed articles in the Standards for the Examination and Publication of Drug Advertisements (Exposure draft) are worth concerning:
 

  • Such contents as contraindication and adverse reactions shall be obviously indicated in drug ads
  • Non-Prescription Drugs ads shall not promote pharmacological effects
  • Spokespersons shall not be used for recommendation and certification in drug ads
  • Drug ads shall not, by way of publishing the effects of some ingredients or exaggerating the efficacy of the drugs except for what is in the instructions, mislead consumers
  • Drug ads in such forms or disguised forms as news report and medical information service programs or in the name of knowledge introduction on health and regimen are prohibited
  • Such contents as improving and enhancing functions in drug adds shall not be published on the front page of newspapers and periodical covers
  • Drug ads shall not take minors as objects, and shall not introduce drugs in the name of minors (Note: "Minors" refer to "children" in the original standards.)


“New standard aims at cleaning up the market, because illegal drug adds are quite a lot in recent years”, a director of China Non-Prescription Medicines Association revealed. For the public, the new standard help to regulate the behavior of publishing large numbers of false advertisements and cheating consumer by drug enterprises to expand sales, and it is beneficial for the pharmaceutical industry improving the quality.


The new standard is still seeking for advice, so content change is inevitable. The behind reason is that the domestic pharmaceutical industry relies too much on advertising. According to a report by Southern Metropolis Daily, some drug enterprises think that parts of articles in the Standards for the Examination and Publication of Drug Advertisements (Exposure draft) are too stringent, so they give their feedback to the relevant departments positively.


Apart from the Standards for the Examination and Publication of Drug Advertisements (Exposure draft), the SAIC also issued the Measures for the Administration of Medical Advertisements (Exposure draft) and the Criterions for the Examination and Publication of Medical Apparatus Advertisements (Exposure draft). The three standards are supporting regulations of the new Advertisement Law, which was passed by voting in the 14th session of the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on 24 April 2015 and will be formally implemented on 1 Sept., 2015.


The introduction and implementation of a series of policies may have a profound impact on health-care and pharmaceutical industries in the future: forcing the transformation of marketing mode in health-care and pharmaceutical industries, regulating the competition between enterprises and safeguarding the legal rights and interests of consumers.

 


 


About CCM:

CCM is the leading market intelligence provider for China’s agriculture, chemicals, food & ingredients and life science markets. Founded in 2001, CCM offers a range of data and content solutions, from price and trade data to industry newsletters and customized market research reports. Our clients include Monsanto, DuPont, Shell, Bayer, and Syngenta. CCM is a brand of Kcomber Inc.

 

For more information about CCM, please visit www.cnchemicals.com or get in touch with us directly by emailing econtact@cnchemicals.com or calling +86-20-37616606.


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