ZAMRA warns against illegal advertising of medicines 

Wed, 31 May 2017 11:25:20 +0000

By PRINCE CHIBAWAH

 ZAMBIA Medicine Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has warned against the illegal advertising of medicines in Zambia.

In a statement to the Daily Nation yesterday, ZAMRA director general Bernice Mwale said ZAMRA was worried about the continued advertising of medicines in the media without the approval of the Authority.

“We have noticed with utmost concern and worry that despite the notice issued in June 2015, there has been gross advertising of medicines and allied substances without marketing authorisation,” said Ms Mwale.

Ms Mwale explained that in most cases it was medicines of herbal formulations that were being illegally advertised in newspapers and on radio stations contrary to the Medicines and Allied Substances Act of 2013.

“Please, note that the Medicines and Allied Substances Act of 2013, part V, section 39 and subsections one (1) to three (3) state that a person shall not place on the market, advertise, market, manufacture, sell, import, supply, administer, or deal in any manner with any medicine or allied substance without a marketing authorisation issued by the Authority.

“A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units (K 400, 000) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years, or to both,” she said.

Ms Mwale further revealed that any person who intended to conduct business involving medicines was required to apply for a marketing authorisation from ZAMRA.