Prohibited products or services
Common matters
- Products or services aimed at adults
Adult services or contents, adult shows, adult communities, adult products, as well as thumbnails and landing pages with excessive exposure, explicit and obscene expressions
- Gambling or betting
All kinds of gambling and betting (Gambling, Casino games, lotto, horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, sports betting, lottery, etc. Korea’s online go-stop, online poker games, etc.)
- Arms and ammunitions, explosives
All kinds of firearm: Firearm parts, ammunition (including paintball guns, bb guns) and related parts, etc.
All kinds of weapons, including self-defense devices: taser guns, defensive weapons, non-cooking knives, etc. Fireworks, explosives of all kinds, etc.
Any kind of content that introduces a gun brand or promotes branding
- Illegal products and services
Illegal drugs, Counterfeit goods & Copyrighted contents (Sites, software, or toolbars that enable unauthorized streaming, sharing, copying, or downloading of copyrighted contents)
- Products that are prohibited from being sold or distributed online
Not allowed
- Inappropriate advertising
Militancy, Extremism, Racism, Hatred, Violence, Hostility between Countries, Leverage fear, Tragedy
- Discriminatory practice
Content that promotes or promotes hatred, discrimination, or demeaning against a specific individual or group based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and characteristics that may be subject to structural discrimination or alienation
Prohibited products or services and Precautions by country
Please note that not all legal requirements of the countries listed below are included, and that advertisers are responsible for investigating and complying with local laws in the business operations and advertising areas. For all countries, the above Common matters is the default.
Korea
- Tobacco, Cigarette, Vape related products
Not allowed - Alcohol
Ads that do not include online sales, allowing only advertisements whose purpose is to raise awareness of the brand
Only authorized Korean traditional liquor can advertise for online sales - Crypto Currency & Block Chain
Crypto-currency, related products and services are complex and constantly changing the relevant regulations, so advertising can be interrupted by changes in government or Dable policy - F/X margin trading
Advertising is allowed only for companies registered with the Financial Services Commission and whose information is verified on the financial company inquiry page - Loan providers
Business that is registered as a loan provider must be able to verify its legitimacy on the loan provider confirmation site.
Taiwan
- Tobacco, Cigarette, Vape related products
Not allowed - Alcohol
Allowed if the thumbnail image contains consumer warnings such as ‘No drinking and driving’, if it contains health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
Indonesia
- Alcohol
Not allowed - Superstition
Mystical contents (Tarot card, Crystal stone, Ghost cleanser, Chakra, Amulets, etc.) - Massage parlor, Karaoke, Discotheque
Including job vacancy in a related area - Others
Some allowed content might be prohibited by some niche media (e.g. islamic website) - Loan providers
Loan providers categorized as fintech must be able to verify its legitimacy with this website
Vietnam
- Tobacco, Cigarette, Vape related products
Ads that do not include online sales, allowing only advertisements whose purpose is to raise awareness of the brand - Alcohol
Allowed less than 15 degrees - Crypto Currency & Block Chain
Not allowed - Breast milk substitute for children under 24 months old
Dairy being breast milk substitute for children under 24 months old
Nutritional supplements for children under 06 months old, artificial feeding bottles and pacifiers are not allowed - Political and electoral advertisements
Any kind of political advertisements are prohibited. Any images of political figures are not allowed unless advertising contracts with the figures exist
Basic requirements for advertisement in VN
- All advertisers are required to submit business registration
- In case of *Special category, it is additionally required to submit category license and Certification of advertisement content
Special Category
– medicines
– cosmetics
– food and food additives
– chemicals, preparation for killing insects
– antiseptic for families and health care
– medical equipment
– dairy products and nutritional supplements for children
– medical services
– plant protection medicine, plant protection drug materials, useful organisms serving plant protection – veterinary medicine, and veterinary supplies
– fertilizers, biological preparations serving farming, animal feed, biological preparations serving breeding, plant varieties and animal breeds
Additional restrictions on advertising content
- Expression restrictions
– In some industries, Using the exaggerated expressions which are not approved in “Certification of advertisement content” on the thumbnails & landing pages is prohibited
(e.g. a non-medicine product, such as by adding a Doctor image or comment to induce it to be mistaken for a drug, or by advertising a medical effect, etc.)
– Using advertisement inartistically, contrary to Vietnam’s history, culture, ethics and traditional customs
– Using advertisements that degrade the respectability of the National flag, the National emblem, the National anthem, the Party’s flag, national heroes, cultural celebrities, the leaders of the State and the Party
– Using users’ testimonials and reviews (such as users’ appreciation messages) as a way to advertise health functional foods is restricted.
- For functional food advertisements, cautionary phrases in the landing are required.
* CHÚ Ý: Thực phẩm không phải là thuốc và không có tác dụng thay thế thuốc chữa bệnh. Không sử dụng cho người mẫn cảm với bất cứ thành phần nào của sản phẩm or equivalent.
* WARNING: this is not a medicine and has no effect as a substitute for medicament. Do not use on people who are sensitive to any ingredients of this product.
Malaysia
- Tobacco, Cigarette, Vape related products
Ads that do not include online sales, allowing only advertisements whose purpose is to raise awareness of the brand - Alcohol
Contact ad-my@dable.io
Hong Kong
- Alcohol
Not allowed - Political and electoral advertisements
Elections, political parties, political organizations, Imply false official government association are not allowed - Over the counter treatments
All advertised pharmacies must be registered with the Drug Office of the Department of Health. Advertisers must comply with the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance. Advertising related to specific diseases, conditions, and health claims is restricted. Unregistered pharmaceutical products may not be advertised - Medicine, Surgical treatment, Device can prevent or cure corona-virus
Not allowed - Financial Service
Advertisements for investment products requiring authorisation by the Securities and Futures Commission (e.g. unit trusts, mutual funds, mandatory provident fund products, etc.) should not be made unless they are authorised by the Securities and Futures Commission - Real Estate
Lowest selling price should be stated as such and should not create an impression to viewers that it is the average price - Promoting by Contest / Gaming
Anyone who wishes to conduct a trade promotion competition in Hong Kong must apply for a Trade Promotion Competition License (TPCL)from the public officer appointed by the Secretary for Home Affairs - Loan providers
All ads published by a money lender business must clearly show the lender’s license number.
Any and all ads must be fair and reasonable without containing any misleading information, and show the loan provider’s telephone hotline # for handling customer support and contain a warning statement
“忠告: 借錢梗要還,咪俾錢中介”
“Warning: You have to repay your loans. Don’t pay any intermediaries.”
Singapore
- Medicines
To advertise medical, cosmetic and beauty products and services approved by each registration authority, contact ad-sg@dable.io - Multi-level Marketing and Pyramid Selling
Prohibits the registration of a company or business that purports to promote pyramid selling schemes or arrangement. - National Emblems
Regulates public displays of the state flag, state crest, National Anthem or flags of other countries that are prohibited by law for commercial use. - Sale of Infant Food
Not allowed - Tobacco, Cigarette, Vape related products
Including imitation tobacco products - Alcohol
Contact ad-sg@dable.io
Thailand
- Tobacco, Cigarette, Vape related products
Not allowed - Alcohol
Ads that promote positive values to the society, without displaying the alcohol product and/or its packaging are allowed
Logo can be displayed at the end of the ad content and its proportion cannot exceed 5% of the content
Ads can run only between 10PM and 5AM and must include mandatory health warning statements - Political and electoral advertisements
Ads cannot advertise or disseminate results of an opinion poll relating to voting in an election and referendum within 7 days before an election until the end of the voting period - Royal defamation
Contents that defame, insult, threaten the King, Queen, and the Heir-apparent are prohibited
Use of the marks or emblem in relation to the Royal family without official permission is prohibited - Medical devices and drugs
FDA advertising approval is required
Specially controlled drugs can only be advertised to medical practitioners - Medical facilities and services
Advertising approval from Department of Health Service Support is required
– Such requirement is exempt when the ad contains only the name and address of the medical facility
Advertising of medical, pharmaceutical, dental, nursing and midwifery professionals as a specialist is allowed only when holding a license in that field - Food and food supplements
Ads of food that include the benefits, qualities or properties of that food (e.g. nutrient content claims) must be submitted for review and approval by the FDA
Ad contents of food illustrating therapeutic and/or medicinal properties are considered as exaggerated, hence not allowed
Ads for food and supplementary food for infants (0-3 years old) are not allowed - Digital token
Offering of newly issued digital tokens is monitored by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Advertisers shall closely consult with relevant agency - Real estate
Advertising of condominiums is permitted only to those who are granted for sale by the regulatory authority - Film and video
Advertising of film and video requires permission from the authority - Intellectual property
Use of the ® symbol is only permitted only if registered in Thailand - Legal services
Ads of legal services must not contain rates and/or fees; statement indicating ‘free of charge’; and names, qualifications, positions, addresses in a boastful manner - Lucky draw promotions
Content on granting prizes or gifts (e.g. lucky draw campaign content for a product or a service), please contact ad-th@dable.io
Australia
- Tobacco, Cigarette, Vape related products
Not allowed - Alcohol
Alcohol ads are self-regulatory and voluntary and each company’s Advertising Code must follow ‘Four Key Standards’- ‘Four Key Standards’
- Content can not target minors or young people under 25 years of age
- Content can not encourage heavy or excessive drinking
- Content can not promote alcohol as a mood enhancer, therapeutic solution, or contributor to success
- Content can not show alcohol being consumed during an activity that requires safety precautions (such as driving)
- ‘Four Key Standards’
- Cryptocurrency, Block Chain & Digital Token
All promotional materials must not mislead or deceive buyers and must not contain any false information. Promoters and sellers must ensure the coins or tokens issued are fit for their intended purpose.
*Due to the complexity of the regulations, cryptocurrency and related services advertisements can be interrupted at any time in relation to the newly updated government or Dable internal policy. - Political and Electoral Advertisements
All political ads should contain accurate information; and need a separate authorization for non-broadcast mediums so please contact ad-au@dable.io for more information. - Food, Food Supplements & Health Functional Foods
- Therapeutic Goods – Vitamins
Other representations in relation to vitamins or minerals are prohibited.- E.g.) Vitamin or mineral supplements are a substitute for a good nutrition and are more beneficial than dietary nutrientsCan not provide the recommended daily intake or allowance of vitamin or mineral, unless sourced from the National Health and Medical Research Council.
- Therapeutic Goods – Weight Loss
Ads for weight management or weight loss products must clearly promote the need for a healthy energy-controlled diet and physical activity.- Any images, representations, statistics or testimonials used in ads must reflect the results an average user can expect to achieve from using the product.
- Standard 1.2.7 prohibits nutrition content claims that imply that a product has a slimming (or similar) effect.
- Therapeutic Goods – Vitamins
- Medicine, Surgical treatment & Medical Device
- Medical device
Medical device being advertised must be registered and approved on the ARTG. - Prescription, certain pharmacist-only medicines and biologicals
Ads for prescription medicines can only be directed to health care professionals.
- Medical device
- Real Estate
Representation about the nature of the interest in the land, the price payable for the land and the location of the land must be accurately marked in the advertisement according to the Australian Consumer Law. - Promoting by Contest & Gaming
- Lottery ads
Must not – encourage a breach of the law; suggest a definite win or a financial improvement; be false, misleading or deceptive; target minors; encourage alcohol consumption; explicitly target vulnerable or disadvantaged groups - Ads with promotional contests
Any ads for promotional contests must contain information pursuant to laws – disclosure of the permit number, how to enter the competition, nature and value of the prizes and access to lottery’s full terms and conditions - Rebate, gift & redemption offers
All rebates or gifts must be provided within the specified time or within a reasonable time.
- Lottery ads
- Loan Providers
Advertisements should follow the Good Practice Guidance – key principles include the importance of presenting balanced messages, prominent display of warnings, giving realistic impressions and expectations regarding fees and costs and ensuring the target audience’s clear understanding of the content.