The Advertising Board has issued instructions to immediately remove baseless and misleading advertisements circulating on social media platforms. Communication Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina has directed relevant agencies to take action against such deceptive advertisements. The Board has stated that misleading promotions of medicinal products without official certification are considered violations under the Advertising Act and will be subject to penalties.
The Advertising Board has released directives to remove misleading and baseless advertisements published and broadcast on social media immediately. It also warned of strict action against such advertisements. Following instructions from Communication Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina, concerned authorities have been urged to advance the process of penalizing false and misleading advertisements prevalent on social media.
After the Ministry of Communication expressed concern, the Advertising Board today issued a public notice stating that advertisements of pharmaceutical products and materials lacking necessary labeling, branding, and official certification, which are prohibited by prevailing laws, are increasing rapidly on social media. The Board has instructed an immediate halt to such practices. According to Devi Pandey Khatri, Chief Administrative Officer of the Board, complaints have been received regarding deceptive promotion of various medicinal products that mislead the general public, constitute fraud, and violate public health standards.
The Board pointed out that advertisements claiming to promote hair growth, lengthening or thickening of hair, healing bone and nerve pain, reducing body fat, cleansing kidneys, and removing bodily toxins are aggressively spreading on social media. Such products are widely promoted using attractive materials without scientific evidence, official approval, or necessary certification, contributing to a growing tendency to mislead the public.
