Drug producers will not be allowed to advertise their products on TV and radio anymore after Romania’s Senate passed a bill that bans explicit drug ads on TV and radio, on Monday, December 15.

Patients should take drugs based on doctors’ suggestions, and not according to what they hear on radio or TV, according to the bill’s initiator, senator Alexandru Vegh.

The law forbids the explicit drug ads during TV and radio shows. Any other type of advertising for drugs without prescription needs to be previously approved by the National Drug Agency while advertising for prescription drugs is completely forbidden in all media.

Advertising for drugstores must also respect several rules, according to the new law. Commercials promoting drugstores should not advertise for any drugs and should not pass the idea that those drugstores are better than others.

The law will enter into force after President Klaus Iohannis signs it.

The new law is likely to have a strong impact on the media companies, as the pharmaceutical sector is the biggest advertising spender in Romania. Drug advertising represents some 13% of the broadcasters’ advertising revenues, according to market reports.

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editor@romania-insider.com