Alstoe and Novartis found in breach
of NOAH Code on promotion
At its latest meeting, the NOAH
Code of Practice Committee, chaired by
Richard Arnold QC, heard five cases.
Alstoe were found in breach of the Code in respect of one
out of three items under complaint
regarding a brochure for Vetergesic, in that they used a superlative
(“best”) which should have been avoided.
Novartis Animal Health were found in breach in respect of
two items under complaint in
several promotional items for Fortekor. In one case a statement made was
not an accurate or balanced reflection of the research abstract referred to,
and another statement was considered to be misleading.
Novartis were also found in breach of one item under complaint
in an advertisement/brochure for Prac-tic. The Committee considered that
the statement complained of implied that the product was superior to
existing products when that had not been demonstrated.
Both companies have accepted the Committee’s rulings and
given an undertaking not to repeat the promotional activities.
The Committee also considered complaints against Ceva
Animal Health and VetXX, and found no breach.
NOAH encourages those interested in finding out more to
read the full details of the Committee’s rulings on the NOAH website at
www.noah.co.uk/code.
6 July 2007
Notes for Editors
For further information contact
Phil Sketchley at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH
website, www.noah.co.uk/code
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The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1
January 1986 to represent UK companies which research, develop,
manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association
has 32 corporate members and 10 associate members. In 2006 the NOAH
sales survey showed a total market of £373.2m, around 90% of the total
UK market.
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Since 1974 the animal medicine industry has regulated
the contents and quality of advertisements, leaflets and promotional
activities under its Code of Practice
for the Promotion of Animal Medicines which is obligatory for all
NOAH members and companies participating in the
NOAH
Datasheet Compendium. The Code is administered by a committee of 15,
including an independent chairman, veterinary and farming members as
well as elected industry experts.
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This release summarises the Code of Practice
Committee meeting on 23 March 2007
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