Watsons fined for false advertisement

Watsons has been fined more than 90,000 yuan (US$13,110) by the Jing'an District market watchdog for publishing illegal advertisements.

The promotion brochures were found on a Xizang Road N. outlet which claimed that a Watsons face-cleaning wipe can prevent pimple and acne, officials from the Jing'an District Administration for Market Regulation said.

The product did not fall into any category of medical treatment, medicine, or medical apparatus and instruments, and acne falls under the dermatological department, the administration said.

It violated China's advertisement law, which bans the use of medical terms in advertisements, the administration said.

The brochures were distributed to consumers randomly at 140 stores citywide, the administration said.

Watsons has removed the brochures and destroyed them, according to the administration.

In a separate case, Shanghai Yuanda Elevator Co Ltd was fined 100,000 yuan by the Qingpu District market watchdog.

An elevator that the company maintained in Qingpu collapsed last year. One person was injured in the incident.

The company failed to detect a quality flaw in the elevator despite twice carrying out maintenance before the incident, the Qingpu District Administration for Market Regulation said.

It violated China's safety regulations on special equipment, the administration said.

The company has also compensated the injured person 450,000 yuan.

In addition, the Shanghai company of Japanese hot spring chain operator Gokurakuyu was given a warning by the Putuo District Administration for Market Regulation after its spoons were found with coliform bacteria.