U.K. MCA would have ad pre-approval authority under proposed rule; broad implementation not likely.

Executive Summary

U.K. PROPOSED AD REG GIVES MCA AUTHORITY TO PRE-APPROVE DRUG ADS, according to a draft issued Aug. 19 and distributed for consultancy Aug. 21. The proposed reg would give the U.K. Medicines Control Agency the latitude to require manufacturers of prescription, pharmacy and general sales drugs to furnish the agency with copies of advertisements that have been published, prepared for publication or proposed for publication, the draft rule explains. MCA could additionally require a manufacturer "to refrain from re-publishing or publishing any advertisement...without the consent of the Health Ministers," during the review period.