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Pharma regulator opens public consultations to update its industry marketing code

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has opened public consultations on updating its advertising code.

Last revisited in 2015, the TGA is proposing a raft of changes for pharmaceutical marketers that would see changed requirements for testimonials and endorsements along with clarifying a number of areas that are unclear under the existing rules.

 

The rule that all advertising claims need to be valid and any information presented can be substantiated will remain, a requirement that has previously caught out Reckitt Benckiser over its Nurofen marketing.

New provisions proposed include making prominent warnings of known allergic reactions and marketing being consistent with public health campaigns.

A key part of the proposed new regulations is clarifying the use of testimonials in medical marketing so that individuals endorsing a product must not be clearly identifiable and not have a personal connection with the brand.

As before, the code will not apply to marketing aimed at health professionals or to genuine news reports, however public interest and entertainment exemptions would be removed.

Copies of the proposed regulations are available from the TGA’s website with submissions on the proposed regulations closing on Friday, 27 April.

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