China's market regulator reports 14,000 cases in crackdown on false food ads online
In short
China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) guided local regulators through the National Day holiday in a special campaign against false advertising in online food sales. So far this year, authorities nationwide have inspected food businesses 821,000 times, found 72,000 problems, opened 14,000 investigations, imposed fines of 61.304 million yuan and referred 289 cases to the police.
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China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) guided local market regulators during the National Day holiday to push forward a special campaign against false advertising in online food sales, outlets reported on October 8. The campaign focuses on online sales of seasonal foods, internet-celebrity foods and health foods, with "zero tolerance" for false advertising and misleading consumers. Yicai, 36Kr and IT Home cited CCTV News; China News Service cited the Shishuo Xinyu (市说新语) WeChat account. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
So far this year, food businesses have been inspected 821,000 times nationwide, and 72,000 problems were found. Authorities opened 14,000 investigations, imposed fines of 61.304 million yuan and referred 289 cases to public security organs. According to the reports, large numbers of non-compliant links and false advertising on online platforms were cleaned up, problems such as incomplete display of qualification information were rectified, and overall compliance in food businesses improved. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
China News Service reported that SAMR stepped up overall planning for the holiday in response to concentrated holiday spending and heavy online promotions, keeping supervision and inspections going throughout the holiday. [ 3 ]
Market regulators at all levels have continued to publish typical cases of false advertising, explaining the illegal methods used, the legal basis for action and the penalties, China News Service said. A total of 2,348 typical cases have been published this year through central and local media. [ 3 ]
Before National Day, SAMR and the China Consumers Association issued a consumer alert reminding people to buy health foods rationally. Local regulators focused on the elderly and other consumers less able to spot false claims, running online and offline education that exposed common marketing traps such as "health lectures" and "free trials". A column on protecting the elderly was opened and a call for educational videos was organised; 3,827 reports have been published in all, China News Service said. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The figures show the scale of enforcement this year against false advertising in food sales, with seasonal foods, internet-celebrity foods and health foods named as the focus. China News Service reported that regulators are also targeting marketing aimed at elderly consumers, such as "health lectures" and "free trials".
Key facts
- During the National Day holiday, SAMR guided local market regulators in a special campaign against false advertising in online food sales. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The campaign focuses on online sales of seasonal foods, internet-celebrity foods and health foods, with "zero tolerance" for false advertising and misleading consumers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- So far this year, food businesses have been inspected 821,000 times nationwide and 72,000 problems found. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Authorities opened 14,000 investigations, imposed fines of 61.304 million yuan and referred 289 cases to public security organs. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Regulators have published 2,348 typical cases of false advertising this year. [ 3 ]
- Before National Day, SAMR and the China Consumers Association issued a consumer alert urging rational purchases of health foods. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- SAMR guided local market regulators during the National Day holiday in a special campaign against false advertising in online food sales. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- So far this year, 821,000 inspections of food businesses found 72,000 problems, led to 14,000 investigations and 61.304 million yuan in fines, and 289 cases were referred to public security organs. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Large numbers of non-compliant links and false advertising on online platforms were cleaned up, and problems such as incomplete display of qualification information were rectified. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Regulators have published 2,348 typical cases this year and 3,827 reports have been published as part of consumer education. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many of the 14,000 investigations concern online sales, or the holiday period. The documents give the figures for food businesses nationwide since the start of the year without a breakdown.
- Which companies or platforms were investigated or fined. None of the documents names any company, platform or region.