On September 29, 2017, China SAIC (State Administration for Industry and Commerce) opened public comment on the Review standard for advertisement of drugs, medical devices, health food and food for special medical purposes (FSMP). The exposure draft clarifies that the content advertised shall be in conformity with documents that have been approved or filed by Food and Drug Administration. Besides, any drugs, medical devices, health food and FSMP banned by CFDA cannot be referenced in advertisements.
The advertisement of specific nutritionally complete formulas is limited to designated professional medical and pharmaceutical journals, and enterprises cannot sponsor any activities for advertising under the name of specific nutritionally complete formulas.
For a safer use of health food and FSMP, the advertisement shall clearly indicate the following contents:
Health food | Food for special medical purposes |
Product’s name | Product’s name |
Manufacturing enterprise or the name of document owner | Manufacturing enterprise |
Advice words (“This product cannot replace drugs”) | Applicable people |
Advertisement permission NO. | Advice words (“please use it under doctors’ or clinical dietitians’ directions”) |
Registration or filing NO. | Advertisement permission NO. |
Health food logo |
|
Unsuitable people |
|
The standard stipulates that the advertisement must be scientific and precise; hence it cannot imply that the product is applicable to all diseases, or can help with cognitive ability, height, etc. In addition, the advertisements are not allowed to mislead consumers by using exaggerated or vague words.
In the advertisement the product cannot be designated for use by juveniles.
Please click here for detailed information of the standard.
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