(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-30 16:29

BEIJING - China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has issued a notice to regulate radio and television adverts during the upcoming Spring Festival.

The seven day Lunar New Year season has been the Chinese traditional holiday for family reunion, a time when most stay at home watching TV programs together.

The SARFT requested all radio and television stations put social effects at the forefront and strictly follow regulations on adverts. False ads for drugs, sex-related health supplements and drugs for sexually transmitted diseases were banned.

The notice also bans broadcasting ads during TV dramas and films and overtime advertising.

The SARFT reiterated all broadcasting institutions must monitor TV or radio programs during the holiday.

New data revealed that more than 3,000 adverts judged to be sexually suggestive or false had been revised or removed from TV and radio broadcast across China last year.

"Radio and TV stations across the country have examined their broadcasting lists and the months of efforts to crackdown on illegal ads have taken effect," the SARFT said.

In addition, more than 1,300 TV stations in over 400 prefectural level cities and radio stations in some 100 prefectural level cities were put under monitoring to spot banned ads, according to the SARFT.

Earlier this month, China's press and publication regulator issued a notice announcing the launch of another nationwide crackdown on "vulgar" video and audio products.