#Japan #Health Claims #Shibuya #REGAL CORE #Advertising Laws

Introduction

In an ongoing effort to safeguard consumer interests, REGAL CORE, a company specializing in legal checks based in Shibuya, Tokyo, regularly investigates the advertising expressions for compliance with laws such as the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act and the Premiums and Representations Act. On May 13, 2025, they shared their latest findings, highlighting problematic expressions that could lead to violations of these laws.

Recent Findings

Similar to previous inspections, the recent survey indicated that numerous Article Landing Pages (LPs) still featured expressions that could violate legal parameters. The findings detail specific examples and provide an analysis of potentially misleading advertising claims that have come to light.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted from April to May 2025, focusing on various web media platforms. Each evaluation selected several online media outlets to assess the recommended widgets displaying advertisements. The primary aim was to identify and evaluate expressions that are deemed problematic based on the requirements of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act and Premiums and Representations Act. The evaluation process was executed bi-monthly, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of claims made in ads presented in the selected platforms.

Specific Violations Identified

Numerous expressions flagged during this survey could mislead consumers into believing false claims about health benefits associated with various products. Some specific examples include:

• - Health Products: Advertisements for health supplements often mistakenly implying pharmaceutical effects or exaggerating health claims, such as:

- "Enhance your breast's fullness effortlessly" or "Easily achieve a voluptuous figure."
- Claiming to detoxify or youthify skin, suggesting miracle effects without scientific backing.

• - Weight Loss Claims: Assertions implying that consuming certain products guarantees weight loss could fall under misleading advertising:

- "Lose 13.1 kg in two weeks without effort" or "Burn fat just by drinking."

• - Men's Health Products: Misleading advertisements indicating enhanced male functions simply by taking particular supplements:

- "Boost testosterone drastically" or "Increase libido significantly."

Summary of Violations Identified

The investigation also flagged a range of expressions that extend beyond permissible claims for functional foods, cosmetics, and even pharmaceuticals. For instance:

• - Functional Foods: Some products advertised their effects in a manner that could be seen as wildly exaggerated claims, causing consumers to have unreasonable expectations about outcomes.
• - Cosmetics: Claims like "achieve permanent hair removal" departed significantly from approved advertising standards.
• - Pharmaceuticals: Potentially misleading representations suggesting that a product could treat or heal conditions rather than alleviate symptoms.

Future Directions

Some companies have already taken commendable steps to rectify their promotional content following past evaluations. REGAL CORE continues to enhance their survey methodologies to ensure rigorous standards and heightened vigilance in monitoring such occurrences.

It remains essential for businesses to comply with these regulations to protect consumer interests and maintain fair advertising practices. REGAL CORE pledges to regularly update their findings and reinforce their commitment to consumer protection by providing continued feedback on advertising behaviors.

Company Overview

Founded in 2021, REGAL CORE operates with the goal of ensuring legal compliance for advertisements relating to health and wellness products. The company acknowledges the complexity of adhering to legal standards while striving for transparency in advertising campaigns.

Contact Information:
Name: REGAL CORE, Inc.
Representative: Hayato Tano Ue, President
Location: 9th Floor, A-PLACE Ebisu Higashi, 3-13-11 Higashi, Shibuya, Tokyo
Website: REGAL CORE