Healthcare and medicines: Restricted drug terms

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Display & Video 360 users must comply with this Google Ads policy. Visit the Display & Video 360 help center for additional restrictions.

We're dedicated to following advertising regulations for healthcare and medicine, so we expect that ads and destinations follow appropriate laws and industry standards. Some healthcare-related content can’t be advertised at all, while others can only be advertised if the advertiser is certified with Google and targets only approved locations.

Learn more about the Healthcare and medicines policy.

Restricted drug terms

This image represents the Google Ads policy for restricted drugs.

In most parts of the world, Google doesn't allow the use of prescription drug terms in ad text, landing pages, or keywords. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of prescription drugs or active ingredients that are monitored under this policy.

Campaigns targeting Canada, New Zealand, or United States

Certain businesses such as online pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers may use prescription drug terms in ad text and landing pages. While you don't need to be certified in order to serve your ads, you must be certified in order to keyword target prescription drug terms. These businesses must be certified by Google in order to serve ads.

Campaigns targeting locations except Canada, New Zealand, and United States

You may not use prescription drug terms in ad text or landing pages. Certain businesses, such as online pharmacies and telemedicine providers, may target prescription drug terms with certification.

In limited cases, and where permitted by local law, Google allows exceptions to this policy for public health and safety awareness campaigns from governmental or well-established non-profit health advocacy organizations. If you'd like to apply for such an exception to use prescription drug terms in ad text, landing pages, or keywords, learn how to apply for healthcare certification.


Restricted animal drug terms

For campaigns targeting Canada or the United States, Google restricts the use of prescription animal drug terms when the drugs are intended for animal use and are not prone to human abuse or other misuse. Animal prescription drugs that are prone to human abuse or other misuse are subject to the Restricted Drug Terms policy. While you don't need to be certified in order to serve your ads, you must be certified in order to keyword target animal prescription drug terms in Canada and the United States.


Apply for healthcare certification

1. Adhere to all location-specific requirements. If your campaign targets a location that isn't listed, then we don't allow the promotion of those products in that location.

2. Fill out our online application form.

  • Be sure to include your Google Ads customer ID. You can locate this ID at the top of your account pages.
  • To cut down on any unnecessary delays, be sure to fill out all of the requested information.
  • If you are an agency applying on behalf of an advertiser, please send documentation detailing your relationship with the advertiser or license holder.

Options to fix

If this policy is affecting your ad, review your options to fix below.

Apply for certification

If your ad was disapproved due to a missing Google certification and you meet the requirements, apply for certification. If you want to advertise in more than one location, submit a separate application for each location or group of locations.

Edit your ads to comply with this policy

Make sure that you’re only targeting locations that allow promotion of in-scope products and services and that you’re certified to advertise in all the locations you’re targeting. You can also choose a new landing page for your ad that complies with this policy.

  1. In your Google Ads account, click the Campaigns icon ​Campaigns Icon.
  2. Click the Campaigns drop down in the section menu.
  3. Click Ads.
  4. Hover over the ad or asset and click Edit.
  5. Edit the ad or asset so that it complies with the policy.
  6. Click Save. Your ad will be automatically reviewed again. Check the ad’s status in the “Ads & assets” page for updates.

Learn more about how to Fix an ad with policy violations.

Appeal policy decision

If you've fixed your destination or believe that we've made an error, appeal the policy decision directly from your Google Ads account to request for a review. After we confirm that the destination is compliant, we can approve your ads. If you aren't able to fix these violations or choose not to, remove your ad to help prevent your account from becoming suspended in the future for repeated policy violations.

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