The 2008 ABPI Code
At the Annual General Meeting of the ABPI on 30 April 2008, member companies agreed changes to the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry and to the Constitution and Procedure for the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority.
The amendments have led to some reordering of the clauses and consequential renumbering.
To download a PDF of the 2008 Code please click here. Hard copies are available to order by clicking here.
For a powerpoint presentation that sets out the main changes to the 2008 Code, please click here.
For a powerpoint presentation that sets out the main changes to the 2008 Code in relation to working with patient organisations, please click here.
The 2008 Code includes changes to implement the revised EFPIA Code on the Promotion of Prescription-only Medicines to, and Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the introduction of a new EFPIA Code of Practice on Relationships between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Patient Organisations. All new requirements in these codes that were not already covered in the 2006 ABPI Code must be implemented into the 2008 version of the ABPI Code by 1 July 2008. There is information in the linked documents about the implementation dates and transition periods.
Background
Since its inception in 1958, the ABPI Code of Practice has been the subject of regular revision in consultation with the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The most recent Code and its operation came into operation on 1 January 2006.
The introduction of the 2006 Code followed extensive consultation and market research with stakeholders and others, including the MHRA, the Department of Health, health professionals, patient advocacy groups, consumer and public sector groups, stakeholders in Wales and Scotland, regulators and trade bodies. In addition, ABPI member companies, non member companies that have agreed to comply with the Code and the Code of Practice Appeal Board also commented.
Suggestions for revisions to the current Code are always welcome. All comments and suggestions that do not conflict with UK law are kept on file for consideration when the Code is next reviewed. Please click here to email us or write to:
Heather Simmonds
Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority
12 Whitehall
London SW1A 2DY
