#Japan #Shibuya #REGAL CORE #Pharmaceutical Advertising

Monitoring Pharmaceutical Laws in Japan

On November 5, 2025, REGAL CORE Co., Ltd., located in Shibuya, Tokyo, released findings from their regular survey on the compliance of advertising expressions with Japanese pharmaceutical laws, particularly the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Act Against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations. Conducted between September and October 2025, the survey scrutinized various web media outlets, focusing on advertisement landing pages (LPs) that may contain problematic representations.

Survey Methodology

The survey employed a systematic approach, involving the selection of multiple web media platforms for analysis. The methodology included examining recommended widgets and the content associated with advertisements to evaluate the appropriateness of the promotional expressions used. Every two weeks, a review of the articles was performed, assessing potential violations from the perspective of consumer protection.

Key Findings

The results indicated a concerning prevalence of content likely violating pharmaceutical advertising laws. Numerous examples of problematic expressions were identified, ranging across various product categories: health supplements, functional foods, and cosmetics. These instances primarily involved misleading claims about efficacy, abusing consumer trust, and opting for sensationalism over factual representation.

Examples of Misleading Expressions

1. Health Supplements: Expressions suggesting medicinal benefits that violate the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. For instance:
- Claims such as “significantly enhance female hormone functioning” and “achieve breast fullness effortlessly” were flagged for suggesting unproven medical benefits.
- Terms like “detoxification,” “anti-aging,” and skin claims that mislead regarding the product's true nature were also noted.

2. Weight Loss Products: Advertisements implicitly claiming guaranteed weight loss without necessary dietary changes raise red flags. Phrases like “inevitably lose weight” or “burn fat effortlessly” were highlighted.

3. Male Enhancement Products: Claims enhancing sexual performance, such as “boost testosterone levels drastically,” were characterized as misleading and non-compliant.

4. Functional Foods: Many products claimed benefits far exceeding those validated by submitted documentation, like suggesting complete resolution of vision issues without the need for glasses.

5. Cosmetics: Claims such as “permanently remove hair” or “eliminate wrinkles entirely” were found to be in violation of advertising standards for medications and cosmetics, which restrict efficacy claims to scientific peer-reviewed results.

Compliance Challenges

The REGAL CORE report emphasizes the need for enhanced oversight in advertising practices to ensure compliance with pharmaceutical advertising laws. Although some advertisers have begun to amend their approaches following previous warnings, the persistence of misleading claims highlights a critical gap in adherence to existing regulations nearby consumers’ health.

Continuous Monitoring

Since August 2022, REGAL CORE has been committed to refining its evaluation methods and interpretations to adapt to the evolving landscape of advertisement practices. They plan to keep updating their findings as the situation changes, providing ongoing insights into the state of advertising compliance in Japan.

Conclusion

The revelations presented by REGAL CORE underscore an urgent need for vigilance and stricter measures in the advertising realm, particularly concerning health-related products. With ongoing evaluations and public awareness, the company aims not only to report violations but also to improve industry standards for ethical advertising.