'Celebrities’ face charges over misleading adverts

[webfact]

'Celebrities’ face charges over misleading adverts

By Suriya Patathayo 
The Nation

 

 

The police have called 13 Thai public figures to hear charges from June 11-13 linked to their roles in promoting unlicensed and substandard “Magic Skin” care and food supplements.

 

An additional 24 celebrities were under scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about whether they would also face charges, national police deputy chief General Weerachai Songmetta told the press. 

 

He said the FDA had already filed complaints against the 13 “celebrities”, including 10 who promoted the "Mezzo Serum" for violating the Cosmetics Act 2015, for exaggerating the product's quality. Three others face charges for promoting "Slim Milk" and "Fern Ceo" products for violating the Food Act 1979 in falsely advertising the usefulness, quality or properties of food to create deception.

 

The authorities have summoned 54 public figures, who appeared on around 100 adverts linked to the controversial Magic Skin products. Besides the 13 who would be hearing charges soon, 17 endorsers had earlier been found guilty of minor offences and were each fined up to Bt5,000. 

 

Another 24 public figures were being probed by the FDA, the police said. 

 

He said the executives of the firms linked to Magic Skin Co were facing prosecution and their assets could be seized. Tonnes of the seized products linked to Magic Skin were destroyed last month, Weerachai said. 

 

FDA deputy chief Prapon Angtrakul said endorsers who had already been fined had failed to obtain the authority's permission to appear on food advertising. 

 

He said the 13 figures who were summoned next week could face imprisonment. 

 

Prapon said the 24 endorsers were under FDA scrutiny because the adverts were linked to claims to reduce the size of upper arms, thighs and other excess body fat. 

 

Prapon also urged the public to be aware of "exaggerated and thus illegal” adverting of food and cosmetic products that boasted the ability to cure diseases, reduce fat or change skin colour.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30370663

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-06

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Orton Rd]

Most adverts are misleading surely?

[Lungstib]

Time to take responsibility, a rather unusual concept here in Thailand. They have put their name and face to a product purely because a decent payment was made giving no thought at all to the value or safety of said product. Quick easy money for no effort at all. The joys of being famous have just given way to the reality of promoting a dud. Welcome to the real world.

[Ozman52]

I can only hope this idea catches on elsewhere. When "celebrities" and "endorsers" accept payment to promote products, why shouldn't they be charged as accessories when the claims they parrot prove to be fraudulent.   

[Caldera]

So far it didn't come to my mind that "truth in advertising" was a thing in Thailand.