The advertising preclearance system
On this page
- The role of advertising preclearance agencies
- Criteria for agencies reviewing and preclearing advertising material
- Who deals with complaints about health product advertisements
- List of Canadian advertising preclearance agencies
The role of advertising preclearance agencies
To ensure that advertising material meets Canadian regulatory standards for advertisements for drugs and medical devices, advertising preclearance agencies (APAs) provide review and preclearance services.
Independent APAs:
- review and preclear health product advertisements
- provide copy review services to advertisers and advertising agencies to help ensure that the promotional products meet the relevant:
- regulatory requirements
- APA's advertising codes
- provide advisory opinions on messages directed to consumers for:
- prescription drugs and vaccines
- education material discussing a medical condition or disease
- assign an approval number and/or authorization to use the APA logo or seal/mark, which signifies the advertising:
- has been reviewed
- in the view of the APA involved, complies with the applicable legislation, regulations and APA codes
Criteria for agencies reviewing and preclearing advertising material
Advertising preclearance agencies have to ensure that they comply with Health Canada's criteria if they want to be recommended by Health Canada. To be recommended, they must possess and make publicly available, in both official languages, their:
- policies
- standards
- procedures
Additional criteria include providing:
- a system for performance evaluation
- proof of skills and core competencies
- evidence of independence and neutrality
- a system to refer cases to Health Canada
- an annual reporting system of preclearance activities
- a process to ensure use of only current Health Canada terms of market authorization
- post-publication/post-broadcast audits of the marketplace influenced by its preclearance advice
Who deals with complaints about health product advertisements
Recognized advertising preclearance agencies reviewing and preclearing advertising material directed to health care providers adjudicate complaints related to this type of advertising.
Health Canada adjudicates complaints related to:
- unauthorized health products
- direct-to-consumer advertising for all health products
- differences between the advertising preclearance agency and the advertiser or complainant
Health Canada publishes a summary table of health products advertising incidents.
This table:
- is updated on a quarterly basis
- only includes incidents where Health Canada took a regulatory action
The aim of publishing this table is to:
- encourage industry compliance
- provide a learning tool for all advertising stakeholders
- complement current practices of:
- key international regulatory partners
- Canadian advertising preclearance agencies (APAs)
- increase our openness and transparency about advertising incidents
You are encouraged to share this information with members of your association if applicable.
For additional information on this initiative, contact the Marketed Health Products Directorate.
List of Canadian advertising preclearance agencies
Different agencies are responsible for the preclearance of different products and different target audiences.
Agencies that preclear advertising material for all health products directed to health care providers
Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board
203-1305 Pickering Parkway
Pickering, ON L1V 3P2
Phone: 905-509-2275
Email: info@paab.ca
Agencies that preclear advertising material for non-prescription drugs and natural health products directed to consumers
- Toronto Office (Ad Standards)
33 Bloor Street East, Suite 303
Toronto, ON M4W 3H1
Phone: 416-961-6311
Email: info@adstandards.ca - Montreal Office (Normes de la publicité)
1275 Ave des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Bureau 500
Montréal, QC H3B 0G4
Phone: 514-931-8060
Email: info@normespub.ca - Yangaroo
360 Dufferin Street
Suite 203
Toronto, ON M6K 1Z8
Phone: (866) 992 9902
Email: preclearance@yangaroo.com
Agencies that provide advisory opinions on messages directed to consumers for prescription drugs and on educational material discussing a medical condition or disease
Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board
203-1305 Pickering Parkway
Pickering, ON L1V 3P2
Phone: 905-509-2275
Email: info@paab.ca
- Toronto Office (Ad Standards)
33 Bloor Street East, Suite 303
Toronto, ON M4W 3H1
Phone: 416-961-6311
Email: info@adstandards.ca - Montreal Office (Normes de la publicité)
1275 Ave des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Bureau 500
Montréal, QC H3B 0G4
Phone: 514-931-8060
Email: info@normespub.ca
Disclaimer: This information is provided as a source to consumers and to industry in order to make informed choices when selecting a preclearance agency for the review of advertising material.