Europe
Germany’s Expert Committee for Prescription (SVA) has unanimously rejected the proposed switch of the controversial painkiller metamizole from prescription to OTC status.
Umbrella branding in OTC medicines supports responsible self‑care by helping consumers navigate choices, build trust and confidence, and access reliable health information, countering regulators’ long‑standing focus on risks rather than benefits, says PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls.
Industry associations in the UK, Germany and Greece expect 2026 to be the year self‑care policy is translated into day‑to‑day system change. They highlight opportunities in pharmacy, digital tools and regulatory reform, but warn that progress depends on political timing and regulatory agility.
GSCF, AESGP and ILAR agree that 2026 will see self‑care translate into more tangible system‑level action, propelled by prevention, regulatory updates and more assertive efforts to counter misleading claims.
Consumer health companies can help accelerate the shift to prevention as employers and through innovation and cross-sector partnerships, unlocking a potential £42bn in savings for the UK National Health Service.
Haleon looks to tap into the growing UK gut health category with Centrum Multibiotics Complete and Centrum Multibiotics Daily.
Germany’s Expert Committee for Prescription meets on 20 January to discuss the Rx-to-OTC switch of controversial painkiller metamizole, which has been banned in a number of countries around the world because of the risk of agranulocytosis.
European consumers are prioritizing immunity, energy, and fatigue reduction when buying food supplements, according to a new report by AESGP. While these trends will drive growth for consumer health manufacturers, they also face growing competition, rising costs, and consumer skepticism.
AI is rapidly reshaping consumer health advertising across Europe, supporting creative work, compliance checks and regulatory oversight, according to a recently published report by UK consumer healthcare industry association, PAGB.
Only taking inflation into account, the European Commission’s new cost estimate of between €1.48bn to €1.8bn per year, when adjusted for inflation, results in a total very similar to the original €1.2bn estimate.
HBW Insight extracts lessons from six ASA rulings related to ads for prostate dietary supplement and self-test products, all of which fell foul of the regulators AI-powered Active Ad Monitoring system.
While no doubt welcome, yet another delay to the EU Deforestation Law and suggestion for another review next year could mean a “never-ending” regulatory exercise that creates uncertainty for manufacturers selling products containing or having been made using materials like palm oil, soya and wood.
UK consumer healthcare industry association, PAGB, suggests improvements that could help accelerate Rx-to-OTC switch in the country.
A new cohort of “techno-enthusiasts” who are highly susceptible to misinformation and inappropriate self-care decisions are undermining Italy's responsible self-medication model, finds a report by Italian self-care industry association, Assosalute, and independent researcher Censis.
In the second part of a special Self-Care Week episode of Over the Counter, HBW Insight speaks to PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls about what the association is doing to promote self-care.
Self-Care Week Special: HBW Insight catches up with PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls OBE to talk about what the association is doing to promote Rx-to-OTC switch in the UK.
“It’s not good enough just to provide products anymore, we need to create a service and a holistic approach to products,” argued Bayer Consumer Health's Northern Europe general manager, Mike Knowland, speaking at a recent panel event in the UK Parliament.
EllaOne manufacturer Perrigo tells HBW Insight that Community Pharmacy England's decision to offer free emergency contraception is "the right move for women" but also "makes pharmacy training and sex education more important than ever."
Lots of young people in the UK are having unprotected sex, but are not using emergency contraception or do not understand very well how it works, according to a recent Perrigo survey.
Brits are consuming insufficient amounts of vitamin D, riboflavin, folate, iron, calcium, potassium, iodine, selenium and omega 3, according to a recently published study. Consumer health companies can help by providing affordable supplements with easy to understand health claims.