The article should have mentioned that the US and New Zealand are the only countries that allow it.
France, all advertisement must vetted by National Agency for the Safety of Medical products (ANSM). No advertisement for prescription drugs, nor for anything under mandatory coverage of the social security. Also any médication requiring the help of a professional for the diagnostic, the initiation or the surveillance of the treatment cannot get an ad. Ads must be factual and present proper usage of the medication. Exceptions exist are made for vaccines, and drugs to help stop smoking. The ANSM also vets publicity done to the Doctor, but with a different sets of rules (source : http://ansm.sante.fr/Activites/Publicite-pour-les-medicaments/Modalites-de-controle-de-la-publicite/%28offset%29/0 in French obviously)