President Klaus Iohannis has requested the Parliament to reconsider the bill that bans advertising for medicines on television and radio. The law contravenes European directives, Iohannis said.

Romania had already adopted the EU directives on drug advertisement into national law.

“The member states can’t pass more restrictive laws or regulations that differ,” the President said.

The Senate adopted the bill in mid-December. The law forbids the explicit drug ads during TV and radio shows. Any other type of advertising for drugs without prescription needs to be previously approved by the National Drug Agency.

Drug advertising represents over 15% of the broadcasters’ advertising revenues, according to market estimations.

editor@romania-insider.com