The ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry 2024 has been published and will come into effect on 1st October 2024. There will be a grace period from 1st October to 31st December 2024, during which non-compliance with new requirements will not result in breaches. The new Code will come into full force from 1st January 2025. 

Key Changes for Market Researchers

Clause 5.2: High Standards and Ethical Conduct

Companies are now explicitly responsible for the actions of their personnel, including contracted individuals and third parties, even if these actions contradict instructions. This change places a stronger emphasis on the accountability of companies when contracting personnel and third parties.

Clause 5.6 (Previously Clause 5.5): Declaration of Involvement

Material relating to medicines and their uses, whether promotional or not, and information relating to human health or diseases which is sponsored by a pharmaceutical company or in which a pharmaceutical company has any other involvement, must clearly indicate the role of that pharmaceutical company.

The only exception to this is market research material if it is such that the name of the company involved is not required to be stated; then the material must state that it is commissioned by a pharmaceutical company.

“Sponsored” has been replaced by “commissioned” to reflect that market research is not sponsored by a company under the definition of Sponsorship in Clause 1.22.

We encourage all members to familiarise themselves with these changes ahead of the 2024 Code’s implementation

The BHBIA’s Ethics & Compliance Committee provides this guidance for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. For specific legal concerns, members should seek formal legal counsel. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the BHBIA assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or consequences of relying on it.