Global Yahoo Advertising Policies
Appendix B: Healthcare and Medicines, International Restrictions
Additional country restrictions are outlined below:
Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
- Ads for any over-the-counter drugs or supplements are not allowed.
Australia
- Products may not claim to cure, treat, or prevent disease unless they are registered as medicines with the appropriate organization in the market where they are promoted.
- Online health practitioners must be registered and accredited by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Advertisements must not be false, misleading or deceptive, must not offer a gift or inducement and must not use testimonials.
- Advertisements are not allowed for products that: have not been accepted or are required to be entered but are not in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods; contain ingredients specified in Schedules 3,4 or 8 of the Poisons Standard; are biologicals, autologous human cell and tissue products.
Brazil
- Advertising for pharmaceutical content is disallowed, except for approved advertisers.
- All supplements, cosmetics, vitamins, homeopathic, and other health care products must be registered with the Federal Sanitation Agency (ANVISA). Approved advertisers must be in possession of all the required registrations and comply with all ANVISA and other applicable requirements.
- We reserve the right to verify compliance with local requirements and exclude non-compliant advertisers from the program.
- The advertisement must fairly represent the quality and purpose of the product, as registered and approved by the local regulatory authorities.
- Advertisements for witch doctors, magical potions and treatments, and miracle cures of any kind are disallowed.
Europe
- Advertising of Lipostabil is disallowed.
France
- Advertisers must have the required Marketing Authorization (French or European) to advertise in market. Food supplements must be declared to the DGCCRF and compliant with all local and EU regulations for food supplements and food product advertising.
Hong Kong
- All advertised pharmacies must be registered with the Drug Office of the Department of Health.
- Advertisers must comply with the Undesirable Medical Advertising Ordinance.
- Advertising related to specific diseases, conditions, and health claims is restricted.
- Unregistered pharmaceutical products may not be advertised.
India
- Advertising for the treatment of diseases and miracle cures is restricted. Ads must not feature claims to prevent or cure common conditions or diseases or health ailments of humans and animals.
- Advertising for pre-natal sex determination is disallowed, as required per PC-PNDT Act.
Indonesia
- Advertising for over-the-counter medicines, cosmetics, non-prescription health care products, and traditional medicines are not permitted.
Italy
- Advertising for herbal remedies, herbal sleep aids, or herbal diet pills is disallowed.
Malaysia
- Ads by health care practitioners are restricted to the name, field of practice, and place of practice of the practitioner.
- Advertisements by private health care facilities are restricted to general information such as the name, location, contact information, working hours, types of facilities and charges imposed by the private health care facility.
- Testimonials from patients are prohibited.
New Zealand
- Products may not claim to cure, treat, or prevent disease unless they are registered as medicines with the appropriate organization in the market where they are promoted.
Philippines
- Advertising for non-prescription medicine must comply with applicable regulations, including proper marketing authorization issued for the non-prescription medicine advertised, and valid license to operate held by the drug company.
- Medical professionals may not promote, advertise or endorse any medication.
- A disclaimer of “No Approved Therapeutic Claim” must appear on the advertisement for food and dietary supplements.
Russia
- Advertisers may not market prescription drugs to the general public; they can only be marketed to medical professionals.
Singapore
- Ads may not promote treatments or cures for diseases.
- Advertising for traditional and alternative medications is prohibited.
- Advertising for health supplements must comply with the guidelines from the Health Science Authority (Singapore)
Spain
- The advertising of prescription medicines in Spain is forbidden.
- The advertising of OTC medicines in Spain is allowed as long as:
- Ads display the name of the medicine and the essential information needed to encourage its rational use.
- Ads advise consumers that they should read the instructions and consult their pharmacist (e.g., "Lea las instrucciones de este medicamento y consulte con su medico o farmaceutico.").
- The medicine has an authorization number from the Secretary of Health.
- The promotional nature of the message and the fact that it refers to a medicine are clearly stated.
- Ads do not refer to recommendations of scientists, healthcare professionals or other persons that could:
- Encourage the consumption of medicines
- Suggest certainty as to the product's effects, lack of side-effects, or comparative efficacy Infer that use of the medicine may improve health or boost sporting performance.
- They are not financed by public funds.
- Ads are not addressed primarily to children.
Taiwan
- Ad content for all drugs and medical devices must be consistent with the approval for the advertisement from the government authority.
- Non-medical care institutions shall not make advertisements for medical care.
- The following keywords are not allowed: child-like face needle, Wu Mei (Niang) needle, miracle needle, anti-aging needle, night owl vitality needle, whitening needle, whitening drip, water light gun, fat dissolving (以下關鍵字不得刊登: 童顏針、武媚(娘)針、奇蹟針、逆齡針、夜貓活力針、美白針、美白點滴、水光槍、溶脂)
Thailand
- Ads for non-prescription medications must comply with applicable regulations, including displaying the approval number for the medicine on the website.
United Kingdom
- The advertising of medicines in the UK is subject to additional rules set out by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Yahoo will only accept medicinal or homeopathic products in the UK which hold an MHRA authorization number. Advertising of prescription-only products is illegal in the UK.