In a story appearing today (July 30) in the Wall Street Journal, the Food and Drug Administration is reported to be cracking down on companies whose sales representatives make improper statements about pharmaceutical products at medical conventions.

According to the story, the FDA has cited pharmaceutical firms in at least nine recent cases for allowing representatives to make improper statements or presentations at exhibit booths. Monitoring booth conversations is a new development for the FDA, which usually reserves close scrutiny for print and broadcast media.

The recent shift to scrutiny of exhibit booth conversations is the result of complaints from doctors and competing firms, according to the Journal story.

Medical conference organizers may find it useful to revisit rules of conduct for representatives at exhibitor booths.