Tighter medicine advertising laws come into force

Laws around advertising medicine have been tightened by Jersey officials.

The Medicines (Advertising) (Jersey) Order 2026, which came into force on Tuesday, has introduced measures including firms being prevented from advertising products only available on prescription.

The law, which replaced the previous legislation dating back to 2000, also stopped the advertising of medicine which contained narcotic drugs or any which suggested people did not need to see a doctor before taking it.

Health Minister Tom Binet said penalties for anyone who broke the law included being jailed for two years.

Binet added some rules remained unchanged, including a ban on the advertisement of a product for the purpose of inducing an abortion in a woman.

Medicinal products which imply surgical operation is not necessary have also been banned under the law along with adverts which implied a product is safe due to it being natural.

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