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Medicines Act 1981

Medical advertisements

56: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Medicines Act"

Illustration for Medicines Act 1981

When you read this part of the law, some words have special meanings. You need to understand what these words mean. An advertisement is when someone uses words or pictures to promote medicines or medical devices. When you see an advertisement, it can be in a newspaper, on a label, or in a trade journal. The law also talks about a medical advertisement, which is an advertisement about medicines or medical devices. A method of treatment is when someone gets paid to help people get better. The law says that to publish something means to share it with the public in New Zealand. You can publish something by putting it in a newspaper, sending it to someone, or broadcasting it, as defined in the Broadcasting Act 1989. Publishing can also mean delivering something to someone or bringing it to the public's attention in any other way.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM56034.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Public healthHealth and wellbeing > Healthcare services
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Part 4Medical advertisements

56Interpretation

  1. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    advertisement means any words, whether written, printed, or spoken, and any pictorial representation or design, used or appearing to be used to promote the sale of medicines or medical devices or the use of any method of treatment; and includes any trade circular, any label, and any advertisement in a trade journal; and advertising and advertised have corresponding meanings

      medical advertisement means an advertisement relating, or likely to cause any person to believe that it relates, to any medicine or medical device or any ingredient or component thereof, or to any method of treatment

        method of treatment means any method of treatment for reward undertaken, or represented to be undertaken, for a therapeutic purpose

          publish means—

          1. insert in any newspaper or other periodical publication printed or published in New Zealand; or
            1. send to any person through the Post Office or otherwise; or
              1. deliver to any person or leave upon premises in the occupation of any person; or
                1. broadcast within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1989; or
                  1. bring to the notice of the public in New Zealand in any other manner.

                  Compare
                  • 1969 No 7 s 2
                  • 1979 No 27 s 2
                  Notes
                  • Section 56 publish paragraph (d): amended, on , pursuant to section 89(1) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 (1989 No 25).