ABPI code of practice Pharmaceutical Industry

Medicines Control Agency, the Committee on the Safety of Medicines and the Medicines Commission, based on the product s possible use, any side effects and risk of its misuse. POMs and certain pharmacy sales medicines must not be promoted to the general public, but can be marketed to the medical profession. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Code of Practice regulates promotional activities (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, 2001). 

Except in the US and New Zealand, where direct to consumer (DTC) advertising is allowed, companies are not allowed to communicate directly with patients. The Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry has been relaxed a litde in this area in recent years and companies can now communicate in a very limited fashion with the general public. Clause 20.2 of the Code allows the provision of non-promotional information in response to a direct enquiry from an individual or via press conferences, press announcements, lectures and media reports, PR activities and the like. 

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