Listed dairy company a2 Milk has been caught out by the Chinese government for disobeying its advertising rules in relation to using images of young kids.
The company was fined $20,000 for inviting Chinese film star Hu Ke and her son An Ji Down Under to help promote the brand as a paid gig two years ago, according to The Australian Financial Review.
Under the Chinese government’s ad regulations, companies are prohibited from using images of kids under 10 years of age as brand ambassadors.
According to the AFR, a2 Milk was unaware of the regulation at the time, but confirmed in a statement that that the matter had been settled.
“The a2 Milk Company has been in discussion with the Administration for Industry and Commerce (AIC) over an advertising matter in China and has reached a mutual resolution to the satisfaction of both parties,” it said.
“The company agreed to pay a fine of 100,000 yuan ($20,000) as settlement of this matter.”