The high court has ruled that the country’s health department should regulate - but not prohibit - milk substitute advertising. The ban was proposed by the department and took effect last year. However, a temporary restraining order on its implementation was filed after objections from the domestic pharmaceutical association.
According to Miguel Ramos, managing director of Aspac Law, some of the biggest formula advertisers include Wyeth, Abbott Industries, GlaxoSmithKline and Nestle. Research firm AC Nielsen estimated that the industry’s ad spend for the first half of 2006 was around 2.36 billion (US$54 million) pesos. “The ban was never really put in place because of the objections made by companies. And if it had happened, its effects would be as widespread as the ban on tobacco advertising,” noted Ramos.
The Philippine government has banned all radio, television and out of home advertisements for tobacco, while a ban on print media will take effect next July.
