Anonymous v Ferring (AUTH/1861/7/06): Polo ground sponsorship signage – no breach | PMCPA Case

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/1861/7/06
Parties	Anonymous v Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Issue	Sponsorship signage (company logo) at a polo ground
Applicable Code year	2006
Clauses considered	2, 9.1, 19.1
Decision	No breach
Complaint received	3 July 2006
Case completed	31 July 2006
Appeal	No appeal
Key evidence	Photographs of logo boards around the polo field; Ferring’s explanation that signage was logo-only and sponsorship had ended in September 2005
Panel’s key reasoning	Complaint concerned placement of logo boards (not a meeting); boards contained no promotional claims and did not refer to medicines or a therapy area

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Reviewed by Dr Anzal Qurbain (FFPM) — ABPI Final Signatory

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What happened

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An anonymous complainant submitted photographs showing Ferring’s logo displayed on a low wall around a polo field in the Midlands.
The complainant believed the 2006 Code prohibited sponsorship of sporting events by companies and referenced clinicians being present at a meeting, but provided limited details (no date for the photos; no details of the meeting or sponsor).
The Authority asked Ferring to respond in relation to Clauses 2, 9.1 and 19.1 of the 2006 Code.
Ferring stated it had been a corporate patron of the polo club between May 2003 and September 2005 and that the sponsorship agreement expired on 30 September 2005.
Ferring explained the agreement benefits included: staff access to watch matches, access to club facilities for meetings, 40 inclusive buffet lunches per season, two advertising hoardings, and discounted hire of additional facilities (eg a marquee).
Ferring said it used the venue for internal management meetings and only once for an advisory board (27 September 2003) with seven specialist clinicians to discuss a new therapeutic indication; the meeting ran 8.30am–1pm with a buffet lunch; participants left by 2pm.
Ferring stated it had not invited any other health professional to the polo club and had no knowledge/involvement in the meeting the complainant referred to.
Ferring believed the sign had been removed when the agreement ended, but after receiving the complaint it contacted the club and asked for immediate removal as the agreement had expired over nine months earlier.
Ferring noted the sign was non-promotional (company logo only; no strapline; no reference to a medicine or therapy area).

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Outcome

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No breach of the Code.
The Panel ruled no breach of Clauses 2, 9.1 and 19.1.
The Panel considered the complaint related to logo boards around the field (not a meeting) and that the boards contained no promotional claims and did not refer to medicines or a therapy area.

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Anonymous v Ferring (AUTH/1861/7/06): Polo ground sponsorship signage – no breach

Key facts

What happened

Outcome

Clauses

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