The circular urges the mass media to strictly abide by the Advertising Laws and relevant policies, encourages advertisement companies to build up healthy management systems, stipulating that the relevant administrations manage advertising prices in a unified way and the media can readjust the prices in line with market needs.

It calls for effort to curb illegal ads by issuing special certificates to prove the quality of the products.

The circular also bans journalists from working in advertising.

Administrations at local and central levels will inspect and monitor TV commercial activities and newspaper advertisements to protect consumers' right and fight against the advertisement and sale of fake products and misleading advertisements to strengthen supervision and regulation of the market.

The notice was jointly issued by the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the State Administrative Bureau of Radio, Film and Television and the State Press and Publication Administration.

(Xinhua 02/15/2001)