Google Ads expands Online Pharmacy advertising in Estonia and Lithuania

Google this week updated its Healthcare and Medicines Policy for Google Ads. This update allows online pharmacies in Estonia and Lithuania to advertise their services, with specific limitations and requirements.

Previously, Google Ads restricted the promotion of online pharmacies in Estonia and Lithuania. The new update adds these two countries to the list of locations where online pharmacies can advertise, subject to specific regulations.

Advertising Regulations

Certification: Advertisers must be certified with Google for online pharmacy promotion. Details on the application process can be found on the Google Ads Help Center [link to Google Ads Help Center on certifications].

Product Restrictions: Promotion of prescription drugs is strictly prohibited in both ads and landing pages.

Regulatory Compliance: Online pharmacies must be registered with the relevant government agencies:

• Estonia - State Agency of Medicines of Estonia
• Lithuania - State Medicines Control Agency of Lithuania

Google will issue a warning at least seven days before suspending an account for violating this policy. This provides advertisers with an opportunity to address any non-compliance issues.

This update allows licensed online pharmacies in Estonia and Lithuania to leverage Google Ads to reach new customers. However, the restrictions on prescription drug advertising and the certification requirement could potentially limit the scope of online pharmacy advertising on the platform.