In a recent enforcement action, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) penalized two pharmaceutical companies – Gledfarm LTD and Ilan Farm LLC – for violating consumer trust through deceptive advertising.

On 14 August 2025, the AMCU determined that Gledfarm LTD spread misleading information about its dietary supplement “Sakhnil”. The company claimed that the product “promotes normalisation of elevated blood sugar,” “enhances carbohydrate metabolism,” and supports reproductive and antioxidant functions.

Notably, Gledfarm attempted corrective measures mid-investigation, including revising packaging, withdrawing certain claims, and retracting products from pharmacies. Despite these actions, Gledfarm continued to market “Sakhnil” using the disputed statement regarding carbohydrate metabolism. According to a notice from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, the AMCU found that the company failed to substantiate any of these claims, which are characteristic for medicinal products rather than dietary supplements. The Committee imposed a fine of 5.421 million UAH (approximately 112,215 EUR) and ordered Gledfarm to cease spreading misleading information.

In the case of Ilan Farm LLC, the AMCU found that its “Herpemax” cream-balm was misleadingly promoted as a “combined remedy for herpes prevention,” a claim that falls outside the regulatory scope for cosmetic products and was not supported by evidence. The Committee ruled that this constituted a breach of Ukraine’s unfair competition law and fined the company with 2.22 million UAH (approximately 45,998 EUR).

Both fines exceed 7.641 million UAH (approximately 158,245 EUR), reflecting AMCU’s intensified monitoring of marketing practises in the pharmaceutical and dietary supplement sectors. The cases underscore the regulator’s commitment to protecting consumers from health-related misinformation and ensuring fair competition among producers and sellers in health-related markets.