Complaints about homeopathy websites
Since 1 March we’ve received a large number of complaints about claims on homeopathy websites, mostly about claims for the efficacy of homeopathy in diagnosing, treating or helping certain health or medical conditions (e.g. arthritis).
The high volume of complaints and the number of marketers we need to work with means we’ve taken a different approach to our normal investigation process. We’re now dealing with the complaints as part of a wider investigation project.
We don’t play a numbers game – we can act on just one complaint. So we don’t need to receive further complaints about homeopathy websites in order to act.
What’s happening now?
We’ve contacted marketers of homeopathic treatments and services about whom we’ve received a complaint and advised them to avoid making efficacy claims for treatments where robust evidence is not held to back them up. Specifically, we have told them to remove marketing claims that refer to, or imply, the efficacy of homeopathy for treating or helping specific health conditions. Advertisers making claims for homeopathic medicinal products have been told to ensure their products have a licence from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before they are marketed.
We are now monitoring these websites to see whether the necessary changes have been made. This will help to inform the nature and scope of any future action we may take. In the meantime, we won’t be contacting the owners of any other websites that are brought to our attention. But we will retain their website details for future compliance initiatives, if we consider such action to be necessary. More information about our compliance work can be found on our website and the CAP website.
We’re taking the complaints we’ve received seriously and we’re pleased that we’re already seeing evidence of website owners amending claims and contacting us for advice. This is encouraging and represents good progress.
Finally, please note that this entire process is likely to take some time, especially given the number of businesses involved in the sector.
Already made a complaint?
Because of the different approach we’re taking on this occasion, you won’t hear from us again. But please be assured that we’re acting on your concerns. If our monitoring exercise indicates a continuing problem, we may take further action at a later date. You don’t need to contact us again for this to happen.
Seen a problem? What should you do?
We don’t need further complaints to complete this process. We’re already working hard to address the issues raised by complainants. It’s important to note that sending us additional complaints on the same topic is most unlikely to alert us to new issues and it can have the unintended consequence of slowing down our work.
Any complaints we do receive may not be responded to directly, but may instead be referred to our compliance team in the event that wider compliance initiatives in this sector are considered necessary.
Are you a marketer and need advice?
The advertising self-regulatory system is designed to help advertisers get their ads right. As part of this process, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), the body responsible for writing the Advertising Code, has produced three advice notes to help marketers of health therapies ensure their marketing adheres to the rules.