It is the sponsor’s responsibility to ensure that advertising intended for healthcare professionals are limited to healthcare professionals and that these materials are not disseminated beyond this audience. The onus is on the sponsor to understand and be clear with the association/platform about how the content will be restricted, including but not limited to sharing capabilities and search engine results.

All linkages should be disclosed for review, including but not limited to:

• links between conference items (e.g. lobby banners, product booths, corporate booths, medical information booths, learning sessions)
• links to external items
• links within a digital booth (e.g. downloadable resources, swag, games, trivia, polls, pop-ups etc.)

Linkages that are not acceptable in print material are also not acceptable in digital conferences. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Linking branded product material with editorial material, exempt material, press releases, learning sessions, etc.
• Linking to non-Canadian product websites and linking beyond the home page of non-Canadian corporate websites

All content, both text and visuals, can be considered to be claims and will be reviewed as such. This includes the filenames of downloadable resources (e.g. swag bag, delegate bag, etc.).

Product claims should be accompanied by the indication and the appropriate level of fair balance (for the whole of the product content at the digital conference).

The indication and fair balance should be presented with a prominence similar to that of claims and should be easily legible without requiring any additional action from the user (e.g. click to enlarge).

The PAAB allows for direct scaling of APSs without resubmission with the understanding that all aspects of the APS remain legible. If an APS will be scaled to a size such that some aspects (e.g. the fair balance) are not legible, it does not meet the standards of the Code and is a violation of Code section 2.4.

By providing this functionality, the manufacturer is exposed to regulatory risk if the chat room becomes advertising.

• The PAAB can provide an advisory opinion on how to minimize risk of the chat room from becoming advertising, including guidance on:
  • Chat room access (rep + single attendee interaction vs. rep + open group chat with anyone who comes into the room)
  • how to moderate the chat room
  • Chat room functionality
    • Duration of chat room content (transient vs. persistent)

Downloading/sharing/recording chat room content

Content descriptors for APSs provided by the pharmaceutical company for use in the internal search function of the conference (e.g. meta tags, keywords) are subject to PAAB review and should be included in the submission for the APS. Similarly, any other mechanisms whereby the sponsor can influence search output should be disclosed in detail for review.

Learning Sessions

Learning sessions that meet the requirements for continuing medical education (CME)/scientific symposia/exhibits per the Health Canada policy document, The Distinction Between Advertising and Other Activities, do not require PAAB review. The PAAB can conduct an opinion assessment to provide a determination if the item meets requirements. It is also the manufacturer’s responsibility to conform with industry standards (e.g. the Codes from applicable industry associations).

These should not be linked to promotional materials or activities that refer to the product, including but not limited to corporate booths or websites.    

Corporate booths that meet PAAB Code s. 1.5.E can be exempt from PAAB review. Likewise, medical booths controlled and staffed by Medical Affairs can be exempt from PAAB review. However, should these booths be associated with or linked to advertising, they may no longer be exempt. It is important that all linkages be disclosed.