Newsletter
EXAGGERATED OR FALSE ADVERTISING OF HEALTH FOOD PRODUCTS ADDRESSED BY NEW LAW
The Health Food Products Management Law was promulgated on 3 February of this year. As defined by the law, health food products refers to food products that provide special nutrients or have specific health-giving properties, are specially labeled and advertised as such, and are not intended to treat or remedy human illnesses. Following passage of the law, health food products may no longer be represented as medical treatments through labeling or advertisements. Violators are subject to fines of no less than NT$60,000 and no more than NT$300,000, which may be consecutively imposed. If a seller violates related regulations, the purchaser may return the goods and request a refund of the purchase price. In cases where the seller made the violations knowingly, he should refund double the purchase price. If the purchaser suffers any other damages, the court may, upon request by the victim, order the seller to pay the purchaser punitive damages of three times the retail price, or no more than three times the amount of the damages, depending on the circumstances of the case.