Advertising medicines
If you want to advertise medicines, you must keep to the rules specified in the Medicines Act (Geneesmiddelenwet). The Act distinguishes between:
- advertising for prescription medicines
You may only advertise medicines with a marketing authorisation from the Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB, or College ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen, CBG).
Advertising prescription medicines
You are not allowed to advertise prescription medicines to the public. You may advertise under certain conditions to professionals, such as doctors and dentists. The rules can be found in the Code of Conduct for Pharmaceutical Advertising (Gedragscode Geneesmiddelenreclame, in Dutch) and the European Community code relating to medicinal products for human use.
Advertising over-the-counter medicines
You may advertise non-prescription medicines subject to certain conditions, such as:
- it must be clear in the advertisement that it concerns medical products
- the advertisement must include the name of the medicinal product and instructions for correct use
- the advertisement must not be specifically aimed at children
- you may not simply suggest that the medicine advertised is better than other medicines
Inducement is prohibited
Inducement (gunstbetoon) is a form of advertising. It means that you offer money, services, or goods to ensure that a medicinal product will be prescribed or used more often. Inducements are prohibited although there a few exceptions, such as genuine consulting arrangements laid down in a written service agreement.
The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd, IGJ) supervises inducements in the medical sector. You may receive an administrative fine for any violation.
Advertising animal medicines
In some cases it is forbidden to advertise animal medicines (in Dutch). For example if they need to be prescribed by a veterinarian, contain substances covered by the Opium Act, or if they are non-registered animal medicines.