Advertising Board Appeals Against Misleading Advertisements

The Advertising Board has appealed to the public not to publish or broadcast misleading advertisements, noting an increase in such ads on social media and other platforms. The board has found that various products such as tea, oil, shampoo, and medicines are being advertised with false claims of curing diseases and solving health problems, often sold at high prices.

The board's spokesperson, Nishan Raj Gautam, mentioned that during monitoring, it was observed that these advertisements do not include the names of the individuals or companies producing the products or services. He added that complaints regarding such advertisements have been received by the board. According to him, as per Section 15(b) of the Advertising (Regulation) Act, 2019, any audio, visual, or audiovisual advertisement must be reviewed by the board before broadcasting.

The board also highlighted that Section 5 of the Advertising Regulation Rules, 2020, stipulates that the advertiser's name and address must be clearly mentioned in the advertisement, and Section 9 of the Act reinforces this requirement. The spokesperson stated that any advertisement broadcasted without following these legal provisions should be stopped immediately and should only be broadcasted after obtaining proper approval.

Spokesperson Gautam warned that legal action would be initiated if advertisements are continuously broadcasted without permission. By making this appeal, the Advertising Board aims to ensure that consumers receive accurate information and to bring order to the advertising sector.