The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has issued a joint Enforcement Notice making clear that adverts for named prescription-only medicines (POMs) for weight-management are prohibited.
The GPhC, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are working together to remind advertisers of the rules and that action will be taken to tackle such ads targeted at people in the UK.
The notice applies to adverts on platforms including social media (such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok), as well as influencer marketing which involve brands working with individuals who recommend products to their followers, and sponsored adverts that appear on search engines such as Google.
Advertisers are being warned that the ASA’s AI-based Advertising Monitoring system is being used to actively scan for ads that breach the Enforcement Notice.
GPhC guidance states that pharmacy owners and the Superintendent Pharmacist, if there is one, must follow the law and guidance on the advertising and promotion of medicines. Failing to comply with these standards could result in the GPhC taking enforcement action. This could be against the pharmacy, the pharmacy owner, the Superintendent Pharmacist, or all three. They could also investigate the fitness to practise of all the pharmacy professionals involved.
Chief Enforcement Officer at the GPhC, Dionne Spence, said:
“Our role is to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect and assure the public.
“It is vital that people receive prescription-only medicines, such as those used for weight management, only after having an appropriate consultation, and when their prescriber has independently verified that the medicines are clinically appropriate for them.
“Adverts and special price offers should not be used for prescription-only medicines as they are likely to promote the specific POM.
“GPhC inspectors will continue to inspect pharmacies to ensure our standards are being met and will be looking for evidence that our Guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services at a distance, including on the internet is being followed.
“We will be working closely with our regulatory partners to ensure that prompt and proportionate action is taken where necessary to protect the public.”
See the enforcement notice online
See the ASA website for more information
View the presentations from the recent webinar with the MHRA and ASA