Search policies Advertising policies & guidelines Introduction Legal, privacy and security General ad requirements Text guidelines Media formats Relevance and quality Disallowed content Restricted categories Ad extensions policies Product ads policies Publisher specific requirements Intellectual property policies Creative specs Additional resourcesException processHistory of changes to policiesTaiwan policies: English/ChineseContact us Microsoft Advertising policies Restricted categories December 07, 2022 BackFood products On this page Advertisers who promote food products must ensure they comply with all applicable local laws and regulatory requirements. Country Restrictions Algeria Advertising for food products is not allowed. Armenia Advertising for food products is not allowed. Azerbaijan Advertising for food products is not allowed. Bahrain Advertising for food products is not allowed. Bosnia-Herzegovinia Advertising for food products must not be misleading, in particular: As it regards the characteristics of the food, its nature, type, properties, composition, quantity, duration, country of origin or place of provenance, or manner/method of production. Cannot attribute effects or properties it does not possess. Cannot indicate a specific characteristic of food when all identical food has such characteristic. This includes emphasizing the presence or absence of certain ingredients or nutrients. Cannot represent the presence of a particular food or ingredient, when in fact the ingredient is naturally present in that food, or an ingredient commonly used in that food is replaced by another component or ingredient. Bulgaria Advertising for genetically modified food, food statutorily restricted for consumption by children, and food containing nutrients and substances with a nutritional or physiological effect which do not meet the requirements of a healthy diet according to the statutory framework, cannot involve children as performers. Advertisers are expected to comply with the self-regulatory rules on food advertising in the Framework for responsible commercial communication of food and drinks. Czech Republic Advertising for food products that contain any nutritional or health claims cannot: Raise doubt about the safety or nutritional adequacy of other foods. Encourage or condone excessive consumption. State or imply that a balance and varied diet cannot provide appropriate nutrients in general. Refer to changes in bodily functions which could raise or exploit fear in the consumer (textually, graphically, symbolically, or through images). Egypt Advertising for food products is not allowed. Ethiopia Advertising for food products is not allowed. European Union Advertising for food products such as processed cereal-based food, baby food, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control must provide information on the appropriate use and must not be misleading or attribute prophylactic properties, treatment, or curing of human disease. Georgia Advertising for food products is not allowed. Greece Health and nutritional claims must be evidenced by scientific means. Guinea Advertising for food products is not allowed. Iceland Advertising for energy drinks containing more than 320 mg per liter of caffeine is not allowed. Iraq Advertising for food products is not allowed. Japan Advertising for food products should not make misleading claims on the effects on health maintenance and promotion, volume of food and ingredients contained, calories, effects contributing to beautifying the body, etc. Kyrgyzstan Advertising for food products is not allowed. Latvia Advertising for energy drinks must include information that warns consumers about the negative effects of excessive consumption. This warning must be provided in the lower part of the ad in black letters on a white background. The text of the warning must occupy as much of the allocated space as is technically possible. Advertising cannot target users under the age of 18 or show such persons in their ads. Advertising for energy drinks cannot give the impression that they are used: When participating in sports competitions, performing individual or organized activities for the maintenance or improvement of physical health, or for quenching thirst in such activities. Together with alcoholic beverages. Libya Advertising for food products is not allowed. Lithuania Advertising for food products that contain consumer information targeted to the Lithuanian audience should be provided in the Lithuanian language. Advertising for genetically modified food must indicate that food is genetically modified. It must be labelled showing the information that such food is genetically modified organisms, that it contains or the ingredients contain genetically modified organisms, that it has been produced from genetically modified organisms, or that it contains parts produced from genetically modified organisms. Luxembourg Advertising for food products cannot use indications that refer to health such as “energizing”. Macedonia Advertising for food products cannot: Suggest that a food has healing properties related to the prevention or treatment of a disease. Make remarks in the form of medical advice or findings. Publish a history of diseases or data that indicates a certain disease is treated with food. Publish statements of third parties, especially praises or recommendation if they refer to treatment of diseases. Utilize pictures of people in professional medial clothing or while performing medical profession or trade in drugs. Highlight specific properties of food that are similar to other food of the same quality. Mauritania Advertising for food products is not allowed. Namibia Advertising for food products is not allowed. Nigeria Advertising for food products is not allowed. Oman Advertising for food products is not allowed. Pakistan Advertising for food products is not allowed. Poland Advertising for food and beverages with high energy value, salt, sugar, saturated fats, and processed fats should be clear and objective and not link the consumption of these products to potential health benefits. Qatar Advertising for food products is not allowed. Saudi Arabia Advertising for food products is not allowed. Serbia Advertising for energy drinks should contain the following warnings: “Not recommended during pregnancy, nursing, for children under the age of 18, persons with heart diseases, or persons with caffeine intolerance.” “Simultaneous consumption with alcoholic beverages is not recommended.” Slovenia Advertising for food products should not underestimate the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, or encourage excessive consumption. Ingredients of food should be clearly stated and not misleading. Somalia Advertising for food products is not allowed. South Africa Advertising for food should not encourage poor nutritional habits or unhealthy lifestyle in children, or excessive consumption. Advertising for food should not claim a recommendation by a doctor or suggest heath-giving properties, unless the claim can be scientifically substantiated. Tajikistan Advertising for food products is not allowed. Tanzania Advertising for food products is not allowed. The Gambia Advertising for food products is not allowed. Tunisia Advertising for food products is not allowed. Turkey Advertising for food products that fall under the “category red” published by the Ministry of Health must include a warning that promotes proper and balanced nutrition. If an element that is contrary to the public’s general religious sensitivities is used directly or indirectly within the good that is being advertised, it must be stated explicitly. United Arab Emirates Advertising for food products is not allowed. Yemen Advertising for food products is not allowed.