*WhatsApp to allow new industries on WhatsApp Business*

*Great news for pharmacies, drug stores and digital subscription providers!*

*Starting October 25, 2022, these types of businesses are now allowed to use WhatsApp Business to offer customer service* , *send out updates with the marketing newsletter, and sell (with some limitations) their products.*

*Until now, companies from these verticals were excluded (with very few exceptions) from the use of WhatsApp Business by WhatsApp commerce policies. This is about to change!*

*WhatsApp updated their policies to make it easier for these companies to onboard. October 25, WhatsApp will have a commerce policy (the same as before) and an updated business messaging policy.* *Depending on the industry, these guidelines will regulate what companies can use which commercial and marketing features of WhatsApp business.*

*For the new verticals, these are the new requirements and restrictions:*

Pharmacies and drugstores can use all functions, including commerce functions, but only for convenience and food items. *They are still not allowed to advertise or sell over the counter or prescription drugs.* *Drugstores and pharmacies that only offer over the counter and prescritpion drugs are still excluded from WhatsApp Business.*
*Digital services and subscriptions can use all possibilities, except sales. This means they can advertise their services, but not sell them directly via WhatsApp.* Digital services from streaming to gaming services are now allowed to the platform, but WhatsApp still excludes news aggregators from WhatsApp Business.
For more info.
https:///c/2347034641008

*Providers of supplements can also use all WhatsApp Business features, as long as they do not sell directly through WhatsApp.* The same restrictions apply to companies that deal with animals, such as the adoption of pets, sale of farm animals, or raw products. The sale of animals that don’t count as livestock or are not meant for consumption is still prohibited.
If your company has been excluded from using WhatsApp Business in the past, but fits the new guidelines, you can appeal on or after October 25 when the new policies go live