The Human Medicines Regulations 2012

Inducements and hospitality

300.—(1) A person may not, in connection with the promotion of medicinal products to persons qualified to prescribe or supply them, supply, offer, or promise any gift, pecuniary advantage or benefit unless it is—

(a) inexpensive; and

(b) relevant to the practice of medicine or pharmacy.

(2) A person may not provide hospitality at a meeting or event held for the purposes of the promotion of a medicinal product unless—

(a) the hospitality is strictly limited to the main purposes of the meeting or event; and

(b) the person to whom it is provided or offered is a health care professional.

(3) Nothing in this regulation shall prevent any person providing hospitality at an event held for purely professional or scientific purposes provided that—

(a) the hospitality is strictly limited to the main scientific objective of the event; and

(b) the person to whom it is provided or offered is a health care professional.

(4) A person qualified to prescribe or supply medicinal products may not solicit or accept any gift, pecuniary advantage, benefit or hospitality that is prohibited by this regulation.

(5) In this regulation “hospitality” includes—

(a) sponsorship of a person’s attendance at a meeting or event; and

(b) the payment of travelling or accommodation expenses.

(6) This regulation does not apply in relation to measures or trade practices relating to prices, margins or discounts that were in existence on 1st January 1993.