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July 2026Canada’s Ad Standards Clearance Services has released a Prescription Drug Advertising (DTCA) Checklist to help advertisers develop compliant direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription medicines.
The checklist, dated 13 May 2026 and publicly released on 03 June 2026, supports compliance with Section 9(1) of the Food and Drugs Act and C.01.044 of the Food and Drug Regulations.
It applies across all Canadian media channels, including broadcast, print, outdoor, and digital platforms. Advertisers must confirm that the drug is authorized by Health Canada and ensure that controlled drugs and narcotics are not promoted to the public.
The checklist restricts claims that state or imply therapeutic use, product benefits, or characteristics. It also provides guidance on visuals, product depictions, medical specialist references, website links, and multi-product promotions.
It further cautions against linking branded ads with unbranded disease awareness campaigns to avoid regulatory circumvention.
This resource helps advertisers improve prescription drug advertising compliance, transparency, and consumer protection in Canada.
Source:https://adstandards.ca/wp-content/uploads/DTCA-Checklist-2026-EN-Ad-Standards.pdf
Region: Canada
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