The State Administration for Market Regulation has released the latest version of the “Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising,” which came into effect on May 1, 2023. The new rules have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry, including the following key points:
Prohibition on Internet Advertising of Prescription Drugs
The new measures explicitly prohibit the use of the Internet to publish advertisements for prescription drugs, unless specifically allowed by laws and administrative regulations. This aims to control the dissemination of information about prescription drugs to the general public.
Mandatory Review for Specified Advertisements
Advertisements for medical treatment, drugs, medical devices, pesticides, veterinary drugs, health food, formula food for special medical purposes, and other similar products that require review under laws and administrative regulations must be reviewed by the advertising review authority before publication. These advertisements cannot be released without undergoing this review process.
Accuracy in Published Advertisements
Any Internet advertisements that are subject to review must be published strictly in accordance with the content that has passed the review. Editing, splicing, or modifying the content once it has been approved is prohibited.
Ban on Disguised Health-Related Advertisements
The measures also prohibit advertising medical treatment, drugs, medical devices, health food, and formula food for special medical purposes in a disguised form by introducing health and wellness knowledge. This rule is designed to prevent the promotion of such products under the guise of educational content.
Separation of Health Knowledge and Commercial Information
When introducing health and wellness knowledge, the measures stipulate that the address, contact information, shopping links, and other content related to the commodity operators or service providers of the mentioned medical treatment, drugs, medical devices, health food, and formula food for special medical purposes shall not be included on the same page or at the same time. This aims to maintain a clear distinction between health information and commercial promotion.-Fineline Info & Tech
