Does Applying a Patch Suppress COVID-19?…KFTC Issues Cease-and-Desist Order and Fine to BM Pharmaceutical for False Advertising

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Fair Trade Commission has taken action against BM Pharmaceutical for false and exaggerated advertising claiming that their patches can suppress or eliminate the coronavirus.

On the 2nd, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it imposed an order to cease the act and a fine of 1 million KRW on BM Pharmaceutical for falsely and exaggeratedly indicating on the packaging of their 'Virus Patch' product that it has the effect of suppressing or eliminating the coronavirus in the air without objective evidence.

According to the Fair Trade Commission, since February 28 of this year, BM Pharmaceutical has made false and exaggerated claims on the packaging of the 'Virus Patch' product, stating "87% suppression effect on SARS (coronavirus-cold variant virus)" and "Proven elimination effect on novel influenza (H1N1) virus by Saito Research Institute of Japan Food Analysis Center."

The SARS (coronavirus) suppression effect refers only to the effect on porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, which infects animals other than humans in liquid form, and it has not been objectively proven whether it has a suppression effect on the coronavirus that infects humans in the air. Additionally, the elimination effect on the novel influenza virus applies only in a vaporized state in a closed space, and it has not been proven whether there is a related effect during normal activities in open spaces.

A Fair Trade Commission official stated, "This action is significant in that it prevented consumer damage by sanctioning false and exaggerated claims about unproven virus suppression effects amid high consumer interest in suppressing COVID-19," and added, "The Fair Trade Commission will continue to monitor and take action against unfair labeling and advertising practices that mislead consumers with false or exaggerated content without objective evidence in the market for products related to virus suppression or elimination effects."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.