Google provides translated versions of our Help Centre, although they are not meant to change the content of our policies. The English version is the official language that we use to enforce our policies. To view this article in a different language, use the language drop-down at the bottom of the page.
The Google Ads policy on healthcare and medicines will change around late January 2012. It will more clearly reflect that Google Ads prohibits the promotion of the following products, irrespective of claims of legality:
- Herbal and dietary supplements with active pharmaceutical or dangerous ingredients
- Non-government approved or non-prescription products that are marketed in a way that implies that they're safe or effective for use in preventing or treating a disease or ailment
- Products that imply or claim that they're as effective as anabolic steroids
- Products that imply or claim that they're as effective as prescription weight-loss drugs
- Products that contain ephedra
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in relation to weight loss/weight control, or when promoted in conjunction with anabolic steroids
- Products that make false or misleading health claims
- Products with names that may be confusingly similar to anabolic steroids, weight-loss drugs, prescription drugs, controlled substances or other products that aren't allowed under this policy
The change will affect all countries. We made this decision for user safety reasons. After the new policy goes into effect, the policy description will be updated to reflect this change.
(Posted on 10 January, 2012)