asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to control the misleading nature of the matter contained in newspaper advertisements dealing with proprietary tablets, medicines and so-called health drinks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Newspaper Advertising of Proprietary Goods.
15.
The following is the text of a statement which was issued by the Government Information Bureau on my behalf on 12th June last:—
"The Minister for Health has made regulations which will prohibit the advertisement of medical preparations as cures for a number of diseases and ailments. The diseases covered include such serious conditions as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and tuberculosis. Under the regulations it will be an offence for anyone, on or after 1st July next, to take part in the publication of an advertisement of a preparation for the cure of the diseases concerned. Publication of advertisements inserted in appropriate professional or technical journals or addressed only to public authorities will be excluded from the scope of the regulations.
The new regulations will also require the contents of medical preparations sold by retail (other than preparations supplied on prescription to an individual) to be shown on a label or on the packet or container in which they are sold. To facilitate the trade, this requirement will not become operative until 1st July, 1959."
I do not at this stage propose to make any further regulations on this matter.