Promotional events

Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (hereinafter: "Directive")

EFPIA Code of Practice

IFPMA Code of Practice

Relevant authorities in Member States

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations

International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations

Directive

No specific rules

EFPIA

All Events must be held in "appropriate" locations and venues that are conducive to the main purpose of the event, avoiding those that are "renowned" for their entertainment facilities or are "extravagant".

No member company may organise or sponsor an event that takes place outside its home country unless:

• most of the invitees are from outside its home country and, given the countries of origin of most of the invitees, it makes greater logistical sense to hold the Event in another country; or
• given the location of the relevant resource or expertise that is the object or subject matter of the event, it makes greater logistical sense to hold the event in another country. 

IFPMA

No company may organize or sponsor an event for HCPs (including sponsoring individuals to attend such an event) that takes place outside the HCP's country of practice unless it is appropriate and justified to do so from the logistical or security point of view. International scientific congresses and symposia that derive participants from many countries are therefore justified and permitted.

Directive

No specific rules.

EFPIA

All events must be held in "appropriate" locations and venues that are conducive to the main purpose of the event, avoiding those that are "renowned" for their entertainment facilities or are "extravagant".

IFPMA

All events must be held in an appropriate venue that is conducive to the scientific or educational objectives and the purpose of the event or meeting. Companies must avoid using renowned or extravagant venues.

Directive

No specific rules.

EFPIA

As a general rule, the hospitality provided must not exceed what those individuals would normally be prepared to pay for themselves.

IFPMA

No specific rules.

Directive

No specific rules.

EFPIA

No specific rules.

IFPMA

No specific rules.

No specific rules.

Directive

No specific rules.

EFPIA

No specific rules.

IFPMA

Refreshments and/or meals incidental to the main purpose of the event can only be provided:

• exclusively to participants of the event; and
• if they are moderate and reasonable as judged by local standards.

Directive

No specific rules.

EFPIA

Member Companies must not provide or offer any meal (food and beverages) to HCPs, HCOs’ members or POs’ Representatives, unless, in each case, the value of such meal does not exceed the monetary threshold set by the relevant Member Association in its National Code.

IFPMA

No specific rules.

Directive

No specific rules.

EFPIA

Hospitality may only be extended to persons who qualify as participants in their own right. In exceptional cases of established health needs (e.g. disability or injury), the travel, meals, accommodation and genuine registration fee costs of an accompanying person can be reimbursed within the same parameters.

IFPMA

Companies must not pay any costs associated with individuals accompanying invited HCPs, except in cases of medical necessity.

Regulatory framework: Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EU) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC,

Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices and repealing Directive 98/79/EC and Commission Decision 2010/227/EU

Industry code(s) of conduct: MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practice

EU legislation

No specific legal rules at the EU level.

MedTech Europe Code

• the event location and venue should not become the main attraction of the event. The perceived image of the location and venue must not be luxury, or tourist/holiday-oriented, or that of an entertainment venue,
• the selected time of year for an event must not be associated with a touristic season for the selected geographic location,
• only actual and reasonable travel costs may be reimbursed, and they may not cover a period of stay beyond the official duration of an event.
• If the flight time, including combined flights, is more than 5 hours, only then business class travel may be refunded. First class is never appropriate.
• no hospitality for family members / third persons,
• no food deliveries during events, including the virtual ones.