Endorsers of dubious ads answerable to law

THE STATE ADMINISTRATION for Industry and Commerce has publicized 12 typical cases of illegal advertising, many of which involved celebrities. But instead of being held legally accountable under the new Advertising Law which came into effect in September, they have merely been given verbal warnings. A recent Beijing Times commentary explains why.

It should be noted that the revised Advertising Law specifies the legal responsibilities of celebrities who help promote false claims about products and the penalties they will receive for such endorsements.

However, these penalties do not apply if the advertisements were made before the new law was enacted.