The gap between legal rules and practice in advertising non-registered pharmaceutical products: A new method of analysis

N. F. Wieringa, A. H. R. de Meijer, M. D. B. Schutjens and Robert Vos

Social Science & Medicine, 1992, vol. 35, issue 12, 1497-1504

Abstract: The market of non-registered pharmaceutical products is growing fast in number and overall costs, not only in the Netherlands, but also in other European countries. These products often give the impression that the consumer may expect 'an effect as from a drug'. Legally, there is a clear distinction between 'drugs' and 'commodities' in the Netherlands; the question is whether legislation and practice concur. In an investigation we analyzed texts of advertisements for non-registered pharmaceutical products published in a popular magazine. A method was developed, based on the legal definition of a drug and jurisprudence, to determine in a qualitative and quantitative way the application of medicinal claims. It transpired that in 65% of the analysed advertisements explicit or implicit claims were made. These products should therefore be subject to drugs legislation. Thus, in the Netherlands there is a gap between legislation and practice in advertising non-registered pharmaceutical products.

Keywords: non-registered; pharmaceutical; products; advertising; legislation; of; drugs; and; commodities; Drugs; Supply; Act; Commodities; Act; text; analysis; medicinal; claims (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1992
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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