On June 29, 1994, the Ministry of Public Health approved a Regulation which provided for the compulsory use of generic names in combination with pharmaceutical trademarks. The Regulation is expected to go into effect on


The Ministry has specified the particular pharmaceuticals covered by this Regulation, which will not apply to pharmaceuticals produced for export.

Pharmaceuticals which are comprised of only one active ingredient will have to show the generic name clearly visible in lettering which is at least one-third the size of the lettering of the trademark and will have to be placed in close proximity to the trademark. Pharmaceuticals which consist of more than one active ingredient will only need to list the important ingredients and these will have to be shown in lettering no less than one-fifth the size of the lettering of the trademark.