CAFIA finds majority of ad breaches concern supplement advertising
Figures released by the authority reveals that out of the 90 inspections made at 63 businesses, 71 violated current guidelines dictating advertising messages featured on the Internet, in press and in retail leaflets.
“The inspection was aimed at ordering parties, authors as well as providers of food advertisements (in the meaning of definitions laid down by Act No. 40/1995 Coll., on Advertising Regulation),” says CAFIA.
“The inspectors often encountered indicating of unauthorised nutrition, health or even medical claims as well as misleading information on foodstuffs.”
The findings are an unwelcome increase on the last investigation CAFIA inspectors made in a similar initiative back in 2016.
Here, the authority found a total of 33 non-compliant advertisements once again mostly in the food supplements sector concerning products sold on the Internet.
The authority cited misleading information and use of unauthorised health or medical claims as the most frequent violations.
Only authorised claims allowed
In a statement, the authority reminded businesses that when advertising foodstuffs, including food supplements, only authorised health claims compliant with Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 can be used.
They add that temporary use of health claims of which assessment has not been finished yet and which are included on so-called “on hold list” is permitted.
However, the use of medical claims for foodstuffs, which include food supplements is prohibited by law as treating effects cannot be assigned to any foodstuff.
CAFIA ordered the guilty parties to remove the non-compliant advertising messages without delay adding that they had initiated proceedings to impose fines.
“CAFIA has the authority to check advertisement since Act No. 40/1995 Coll., on Advertising Regulation was amended and came into effect in 2015,” they say.
“This authority does not include television and radio broadcasting. Within inspection of advertising campaigns affecting the area of audiovisual other media, CAFIA co-operates with the Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting.
Information on non-compliant, misleading or unauthorised claims used by e-shops operating outside the EU territory is available on the CAFIA website
