Illegal medical ads banned in newspapers, magazines
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-24 15:34
Chinese newspapers and magazines will be prohibited from accepting misleading
advertising effective November 1, says the State Press and Publication
Administration and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce
(SAIC).
The move follows a ban issued in August by the State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television and SAIC on similarly misleading
television and radio commercials.
Publications will be prohibited from
accepting advertising that promote unproven medical products. Many of the ads
promote male potency, breast enlargements or magical cure-alls.
The
administrations say the misleading ads are often vulgar, offensive and seriously
impair the credibility of the print media.
"Advertisements must be true
and credible," says the circular announcing the ban.
China's advertising
market has grown rapidly in recent years. According to the China Consumers
Association, the country's advertising business was worth 141.6 billion yuan
(17.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2005, ranking the fifth in the
world.
Misleading ads and commercials have frequently duped consumers who
are increasing fed up with products that do not work. More than two-thirds of
Chinese netizens responding to an on-line survey in September said they had been
victimized by fake and illegal advertisements.
The respondents said
medical products, health food and medicine were the most untrustworthy ads
followed by cosmetic products.
According to the administrations,
advertisements that are obscene or contain superstitious content and those
teaching gambling tricks will also be strictly prohibited. (For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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