Running direct ads for dietary supplements in Telegram Ads is difficult: the platform’s policy lists supplements among products with unverified health claims, and in Russia such ads must also meet the requirements of Article 25 of the Federal Law on Advertising. Below we explain what Telegram prohibits, what the Russian law requires and which promotion options remain for supplement makers and sellers. This is not legal advice.
What Telegram’s ad policy says about supplements
Telegram’s ad policies (ads.telegram.org/guidelines, as of November 2026) include section 5.8, “Uncertified medical services, medications, supplements”. It requires promoted products to comply with all local regulations and sellers to be properly licensed. Ads must also not promote content, products or services implicitly or explicitly related to any unverified health and wellness benefits.
The examples listed in that section explicitly include:
- Nutrition products and supplements — weight loss or gain products, herbal drugs, dietary supplements, pregnancy and fertility-related products.
- Products with unverified claims of healthful, curative or stimulating effects, including methods suggesting unrealistic health improvements.
- Unapproved medicines and unlicensed medical devices, services and treatments.
The policy makes no exception for supplements, so an ad that directly sells a supplement or promises an effect is unlikely to be approved. For details on how ad review works, see our article on Telegram Ads moderation.
Russia’s advertising law requirements for supplements
This section applies to ads distributed in Russia. They fall under Article 25 of Federal Law No. 38-FZ “On Advertising” (version as of August 2026). Part 1 of the article lists what supplement ads must not contain:
- An impression that the supplement is a medicine or has curative properties.
- References to specific cases of people being cured or their condition improving.
- Expressions of gratitude from individuals for using the supplement.
- Encouragement to give up a healthy diet.
- An impression of advantages created by citing studies required for state registration, or by a direct recommendation to use it.
Part 1.1 adds a mandatory warning: every ad must state that the advertised product is not a medicine. In 2013 Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) clarified that the phrase “не является лекарственным средством” (“is not a medicine”) satisfies this requirement.
Warning and labeling: fitting them into the format
The law sets the size of the warning: at least 3 seconds on radio, at least 5 seconds and 7% of the frame on TV and in video, and at least 10% of the advertising space in ads distributed by other means. Telegram Ads text is limited to 160 characters, and the Russian warning phrase takes about 35 of them.
In addition, ads in Russia must be labeled with the word “Реклама” (advertising), the advertiser’s details and an ERID token. We covered how this works in Telegram Ads through Russian resellers in our article on Telegram Ads labeling in Russia. As a result, little room is left for the offer itself, and any promise of an effect breaks both the law and Telegram’s policy at once.
Penalties for violations
Violating Russia’s rules on supplement advertising falls under Part 5 of Article 14.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. According to the code’s 2026 text, the fines are:
| Who violated | Fine under Art. 14.3(5) |
|---|---|
| Individual | 2,000–2,500 rubles |
| Official | 10,000–20,000 rubles |
| Legal entity | 200,000–500,000 rubles |
Keep in mind that rejected ads and repeated policy violations can also lead to restrictions on the ad account. That risk affects not just one campaign but the whole account with a reseller.
Which promotion options remain
If a supplement can’t be sold directly through Telegram Ads, more cautious approaches remain. None of them guarantees approval, but at least their wording doesn’t contradict the policy:
- A content channel about nutrition or sports, where the ad promotes the channel and its content rather than a product or its effect.
- Paid posts in niche channels arranged directly with channel owners — in Russia, still subject to Article 25, the warning and labeling. The pros and cons of this route are covered in Telegram Ads vs Channel Ad Buys.
- Marketplace sales with a separate strategy for promoting product listings; see our article on Telegram Ads for marketplace sellers, though the category restrictions still apply.
The landing page must also comply: Telegram’s review looks not only at the ad text but at where it leads.
How supplement ads differ from medicine and medical service ads
In Russia, medicines, medical devices and medical services are governed by Article 24 of the same law. It has its own warning about contraindications and the need to consult a specialist, which must take at least 5% of the advertising space in ads distributed “by other means”. The law also explicitly forbids presenting a medicine as a supplement (Art. 24(1)(9)). For more on the medical category, see our article on medical services ads in Telegram Ads.
FAQ
Can you advertise dietary supplements in Telegram Ads?
As of November 2026, Telegram’s ad policy explicitly names dietary supplements among examples of products with unverified health benefits that must not be promoted. A direct supplement ad will therefore most likely be rejected. The policy has no exceptions for particular types of supplements.
What warning is required in supplement ads in Russia?
Under Article 25(1.1) of Russia’s Law on Advertising, the ad must state that the product is not a medicine. The FAS considers the phrase “не является лекарственным средством” sufficient. Outside radio and TV, the warning must take at least 10% of the advertising space.
Can customer reviews be used in supplement ads?
Not in Russia. The law prohibits references to specific cases of cure or improvement and expressions of gratitude from individuals in supplement ads. This applies to both Telegram Ads and paid posts in channels.
What is the fine for breaking supplement advertising rules in Russia?
Part 5 of Article 14.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses sets fines of 2,000–2,500 rubles for individuals, 10,000–20,000 rubles for officials and 200,000–500,000 rubles for legal entities. The amounts are based on the code’s 2026 text.
Do supplement ads on Telegram need labeling?
Yes, if the ad is distributed in Russia it is labeled under the general rules: the word “Реклама”, the advertiser’s details and an ERID token. Labeling doesn’t replace the Article 25 requirements or Telegram’s policy.
Will moderation approve an ad for a healthy-eating channel?
The policy doesn’t ban promoting content channels, but the ad must not promise health benefits or lead to supplement sales. There is no guarantee of approval: reviewers assess both the ad text and the channel’s content.
