CPA issues statement on advertisement about unauthorised product

Muscat: The Consumer Protection Authority (CPA), has taken legal measures against the advertiser and supplier of an unauthorised herbal product (Mujezat Al-Shifa).

The Consumer Protection Authority followed the commercial advertisement circulating on social media for the product (Mujezat Al-Shifa), which the advertiser claims is a treatment for knee roughness. Accordingly, the authority took legal measures against the advertiser and the supplier, as it was found that the product was not authorized to be traded because it was in violation of Article No. (2) of Administrative Decision No. (254/2015) regarding regulating the circulation of natural and manufactured herbs, plant extracts, and medical devices, and advertising them which stipulates, “It is prohibited to trade in any natural or manufactured herbs with medicinal uses in the form of (pills, capsules, ointments, liquid, powder or in any other form, or to advertise them except after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Health.”

In this regard, the Authority would like to advise all advertisers to investigate accuracy and ensure that such products obtain the approvals of the competent authorities before announcing them and to avoid misleading advertisements.

A number of people in various social platforms were dissatisfied about the advertisement and demanded that the most severe punishment be taken against the advertiser.