Competition Bureau
ToolsRelated topicsResourcesCompetition Bureau Participates in International Internet Sweep DayOTTAWA, February 28, 2002 - The Competition Bureau is part of an international effort to make the Internet less hazardous to your health. As a member of the International Marketing Supervision Network (IMSN), the Bureau has just participated in the annual International Internet Sweep Day. The target of the sweep was Web sites making deceptive or misleading claims for health products and services. Eight officers with the Bureau's Fair Business Practices Branch took part in the sweep, looking for Canadian-based sites offering miracle cures or making unrealistic performance claims for health products. The officers filed reports on over 50 sites, approximately half of which were considered "problematic". Examples of problematic sites are those that offer cures for cancer, AIDS and arthritis, or promote products offering effortless weight loss while you sleep. Sweep records have been sent to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which is co-ordinating the Internet Sweep Day and will issue a final report. Participating agencies will then follow-up with appropriate action on the sites under their review. The IMSN is a membership organization consisting of consumer protection authorities from 30 countries and representatives from the European Commission and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Its main objective is to help prevent and redress deceptive international marketing practices through knowledge sharing and promotion of fair business practices. For more information about the Internet Sweep Day, go to www.accc.gov.au. For more information about the IMSN, go to www.imsnricc.org. Consumers who feel they have been misled by health product advertising or services on the Internet should contact: Information Centre For media enquiries, please contact: 
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Created: 2002-02-28 Updated: 2005-04-18 |
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