Note: This advice is given by the CAP Executive about non-broadcast advertising. It does not constitute legal advice. It does not bind CAP, CAP advisory panels or the Advertising Standards Authority.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) website states “A homoeopathic medicinal product is defined in European legislation (Article 1(5) of Directive 2001/83/EC as amended by 2004/27/EC as: ‘Any medicinal product prepared from substances called homeopathic stocks in accordance with a homeopathic manufacturing procedure described by the European Pharmacopoeia or, in the absence thereof, by the pharmacopoeias currently used officially in the Member States. A homeopathic medicinal product may contain a number of principles’.”
Rule 12.20 of the CAP Code states that “Homeopathic medicinal products must be registered in the UK. Any product information given in the marketing communication should be confined to what appears on the label. Marketing communications must include a warning to consult a doctor if symptoms persist. Marketing communications for an unlicensed product must not make a medicinal or therapeutic claim or refer to an ailment unless authorised by the MHRA to do so.”
The Code also indicates (Rul 12.13) that advertising for homeopathic medicines should include mandatory information as indicated by the MHRA in its Blue Guide.
CAP also recommends markteters read this MHRA guidance on how to Register a Homeopathic product.
See ‘Therapies: Homeopathy’.