The EFPIA Code
The EFPIA Code of Practice
The EFPIA Code constitutes the collection of ethical rules agreed by EFPIA members for the Promotion of Medicinal Products to healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the interactions with HCPs, healthcare organisations (HCOs) and patients' organisations (POs), with the intent of guaranteeing that these activities are conducted while respecting the most stringent ethical principles of professionalism and responsibility.
The EFPIA Code constitutes the collection of ethical rules agreed by EFPIA members for the Promotion of Medicinal Products to healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the interactions with HCPs, healthcare organisations (HCOs) and patients' organisations (POs), with the intent of guaranteeing that these activities are conducted while respecting the most stringent ethical principles of professionalism and responsibility.
This Code applies to all types of communication and interaction (traditional and digital).
As a member of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), the EFPIA Code embodies the principles of the IFPMA Code and Ethos that serve to instil a culture of ethics and integrity needed to guide the industry’s interactions with the healthcare and patient community.
Medical congresses
In 2020, due to the lockdown, the interactions and activities that were needed to maintain the scientific exchange, moved to virtual to protect the health and safety of patients and healthcare professionals. In this context, EFPIA, IFPMA, and PhRMA decided, for the first time, to jointly issue guidance on Virtual and Hybrid International Medical Congresses.
In addition to this guidance, EFPIA has collaborated with IPCAA in 2025 to co-create a document summarising and explaining the legal and compliance provisions applicable to medical congresses.
Annual code report
At EFPIA, the Ethics & Compliance activities are organised within the framework of the Codes Committee (composed only of the representatives from the Member Associations) and the Ethics & Compliance Committee (composed of the representatives from the Member Companies and Associations).
Based on the EFPIA Code requirements, the Codes Committee must publish an annual code report which summarises the work and activities which have taken place in connection with the implementation, development, and enforcement of the various national codes during the applicable year, based on the country reports provided by the Member Associations.
In addition to these national Code reports, EFPIA includes in this report an overview of the Ethics & Compliance activities conducted by EFPIA during the applicable year.
Other Code materials At EFPIA, the Ethics & Compliance activities are organised within the framework of the Codes Committee (composed only of the representatives from the Member Associations) and the Ethics & Compliance Committee (composed of the representatives from the Member Companies and Associations).
Based on the EFPIA Code requirements, the Codes Committee must publish an annual code report which summarises the work and activities which have taken place in connection with the implementation, development, and enforcement of the various national codes during the applicable year, based on the country reports provided by the Member Associations.
In addition to these national Code reports, EFPIA includes in this report an overview of the Ethics & Compliance activities conducted by EFPIA during the applicable year.
Scorecard Drinks and Meals
According to Art.10.05 of the EFPIA Code, Member Companies must not provide or offer any meal (food and beverages) to HCPs, HCOs’ members or POs’ Representatives, unless, in each case, the value of such meal does not exceed the monetary threshold set by the relevant Member Association in its National Code (following the “Host Country Principle”).
Below the Scorecard defining the threshold on Meals and Drinks of the EFPIA Member Associations.