The Government Information Office (GIO) has reportedly asked famous mainland brand Tsingtao Beer to pull off TV and radio commercials in Taiwan. A letter sent by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) saying mainland products cannot be advertised without the approval of related government agencies, as specified in the Cross-Strait Citizens Relations Act, had prompted the GIO to order TV and radio stations not to broadcast Tsingtao commercials, reported the local United Daily Evening News yesterday.

There are currently no regulations governing the review of ads promoting mainland products, thus creating loopholes in the process, the paper cited a GIO official as saying. MAC has submitted to the Legislative Yuan a draft amendment regarding the review of such ads, the report said.

The Taiwan distributor of Tsingtao Beer commented yesterday it would communicate with related agencies as soon as possible, as the GIO order would damage its operations.

The company spends approximately NT$10 million a month on advertising in Taiwan, Tsingtao said.
The GIO"s move might have to do with mainland China"s refusal to allow sales of Taiwan Beer on the other side of the strait, said a company spokesman.

Source: William C. Pao, TAIPEI, Taiwan, The China Post and Beer-union.com

22 April, 2003