Brussels, 10 December 2025 – The Association of the European Self‑Care Industry (AESGP) has released a self-care industry guidance document on umbrella names for non‑prescription medicinal products. The document lays out best practices to support and guide companies entering the self-care space. Inspired by existing practices, the guideline describes a comprehensive framework for companies to create and oversee umbrella names for non‑prescription medicinal products, ensuring the umbrella name delivers on its expected benefits in a safe and controlled environment. This document centres on a decision tree that explores various scenarios where a company might choose an umbrella name. It offers advice regarding key factors to consider and implement, ensuring accurate identification of the medicinal product.
Umbrella branding – i.e., using a single brand name to market multiple medicines – can strengthen consumer recognition, trust, and accountability in self‑care. AESGP’s new paper sets out how to realise these benefits while ensuring names remain distinct and risks of mix‑ups are minimised.
Recommendations in the guidance cover:
- General safety considerations for umbrella names and how they support responsible self‑care choices.
- A decision tree and accompanying explanations to aid the selection of elements to be applied, depending on the situation, to ensure the proper selection and recognition of the product.
- Risk assessment and mitigation steps that surround the development of an umbrella name.
- A reminder of the pharmacovigilance measures and post‑marketing monitoring measures to track real‑world data and act on signals.
- A toolkit, including: naming essentials, a risk assessment table, and points to consider for understanding user behaviour with umbrella branding in the post-marketing setting.
Note: The paper focuses on non‑prescription (OTC) medicinal products and is designed to complement, not replace, national requirements and naming guidelines. It helps companies entering or operating in self‑care to create umbrella names that resonate with users yet remain sufficiently distinct to avoid confusion.
Jurate Svarcaite, Director General of AESGP, said: “When designed with clarity and safety at their core, umbrella names can be powerful signposts in self‑care. This new guidance comes at a time when the landscape for self-care is rapidly evolving, with an increasing focus on prevention, patient autonomy, and informed decision-making. By providing clear recommendations and practical tools, AESGP aims to support industry professionals in navigating the complexities of umbrella branding, promoting both innovation and patient safety within the sector.”
Document
Access the full paper here: