One of the types of ads that suffer the most disapproval on Google Ads is those related to medicines and health products - drugs, supplements, tests, etc.
As this is a delicate matter that involves the legislation of each country, Google is keen to protect its users and has various rules that apply to this category. Some products are banned, while others are restricted or require special authorization.
So be aware of whether your ads could be rejected by Google when you try to offer a certain type of product or service.
Prohibited Categories
In Brazil, Google does not allow ads for:
- Controlled Medicines;
- Mass manufacturers of medicines, suppliers of medical products and suppliers of compounds to commercial laboratories;
- Products containing ephedra;
- Products containing human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) associated with weight loss or weight control or when promoted in conjunction with anabolic steroids;
- Herbal and food supplements with active or dangerous pharmaceutical ingredients;
- False or misleading health claims, including claims implying that a product is as effective as controlled substances and drugs;
- Products not approved by the government that are marketed in such a way as to signal that their use is safe and effective in preventing, curing or treating certain illnesses or diseases;
- Products that were subject to any regulatory or governmental warning or action;
- Products with names very similar to that of a pharmaceutical substance, supplement or failed controlled substance;
- Lots of supplements. You can even check out a list of all banned supplements and pharmaceutical products here;
- Controlled opioid analgesics;
- Speculative and experimental medical treatment. E.g. gene therapy, biohacking, etc;
- Recruitment for clinical studies;
- Home HIV tests;
- Any ad related to abortion;
- Drug rehabilitation services. E.g. support organizations, clinical addiction treatment providers, etc.
A few exceptions
In Brazil, advertisements are allowed for over-the-counter medicines (those that do not require a prescription).
In addition, Brazil is one of the countries where it is permitted to advertise for pharmacies online. However, you will need Google certification to do so.
Good practices
Sometimes your product or service can be advertised after support reviews, when they feel it is up to standard.
In some cases, Google will ask you to declare that your products comply with the policies. In others, you will need a special certification for medical products and services. To do this, simply access this Google form.
Therefore, one recommendation is to avoid sensationalist terms and phrases that promise a specific result. Examples: "Lose weight quickly with this formula", "Lose 10kg in 7 days with this new compound" and so on.
Avoid using the product's chemical compounds in keywords or in the ad itself. It's also important to be careful with the landing page, because if that word is there, the ad could be rejected.
Conclusion
If your service or product falls under the "prohibited" policy, it's best not to advertise on Google. Even if your ad is initially approved, at a later date your account could be temporarily blocked or even permanently blocked.
However, if it can indeed be advertised on Google, follow Pareto's tips so that your ads are all approved. That way, you'll be able to take advantage of all the advertising opportunities on this platform!
