Guidelines on health advertising of over-the-counter medicines (OTC) and non-prescription medicines (SOP)

The new ones have been published Guidelines on health advertising of over-the-counter medicines (OTC) and non-prescription medicines (SOP) which provide clarifications regarding the methods permitted for the dissemination of advertising messages, with particular reference to the use of new communication channels.

The document, approved by the Health Advertising Licensing Section of the Health Technical Committee, updates and replaces the previous Guidelines published in recent years for medicines.

The reference regulatory framework for the advertising of medicinal products remains unchanged, defined by Legislative Decree 219/2006 which identifies fundamental principles, limits, characteristics, minimum content and prohibited content and regulates the procedure for authorizing messages by the Ministry.

A tool, therefore, developed with the aim of facilitating the activity of professional operators which, at the same time, guarantees the protection of health.

Were also updated i forms to submit applications for authorization which can be sent, with the relative attachments, exclusively via pec.

Ministry of Health – 21 July 2023

Related news: Judgment of the European Court. Advertising of medicines is subject to conditions, restrictions and bans in order to ensure the protection of public health. The advertising promotion of medicines on the basis of the price is contrary to EU law

Advertising of medicines: scientific information and advertising to the public