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 (MHRA) website states that “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 states that “Homeopathic medicinal products must be registered in the UK. Any product information given in the marketing communication should include a warning to consult a doctor if symptoms persist. Marketing communications for unauthorised products should not make any medicinal or therapeutic claims or refer to any ailment”.
Rule 12.6, introduced to reflect Annex practice 17 of the Consumer Protection Regulations, states that marketers should not falsely claim that a product is able to cure illness, dysfunction or malformations.
Prior to the extension of the ASA's remit to online marketing communications, the ASA considered very few complaints, and the CAP Copy Advice team received very few enquiries, about homeopathic medicines. In the first instance, marketers should check with the MHRA if they have any questions.
See also Guidance for Advertisers of Homeopathic Services
See ‘Ailments, Treatments and Therapies: Homeopathy’.
Last modified : 02 April 2012