AGCM

The Authority, at a meeting held on Sunday, 22 March 2020, opened an investigation , while ordering, as an interim measure, the removal of any reference to the preventive effectiveness against COVID-19 with respect to the detergents, cosmetics and supplements advertised and marketed both on the https://carlitashop.com website and on the associated Instagram page.

The adoption of this urgent measure was deemed crucial to stopping the spread of an extremely serious practice, with the Authority thus required to intervene without delay.

Certain products are advertised and sold on the homepage of the website and through the Instagram profile (such as the "Optima Naturalis Antiviral Purifying Antibacterial Manuka Essential Oil” or the "Optima Naturalis Defence Plus Manuka Antiviral Supplement”). The advertisements extol the unfounded "antiviral", antibacterial and antiseptic capacities of these products, as well as their ability to strengthen the immune system and protect the respiratory tract, thanks to active ingredients which fight microorganisms that can trigger inflammation in the respiratory tract and lungs. There is also praise for the disinfectant properties and ability to combat contagion of various detergents and cosmetic creams.

None of these claims is actually supported by scientific literature and none of the products advertised provides medical defence.

The Authority found that the way the products are promoted is prima facie misleading and aggressive, since the site exploits consumers’ judgement, which has been affected by the constant increase in the number of people infected by COVID-19.

The Authority, in view of the unique current circumstances, is continuing to focus its attention on operators active on the e-commerce market who adopt unfair and misleading behaviour.

Rome, 22 March 2020