Canada - Competition Bureau Requires Maker of Nivea to Reimburse Customers for Misleading Claims

OTTAWA, September 7, 2011 — The Competition Bureau has reached a settlement with Beiersdorf Canada Inc., Nivea's Canadian distributor, to stop making what the Bureau has concluded were false or misleading claims about one of its Nivea products. The claims suggested, among other things, that regular use of the product slims and reshapes the body, causing a reduction of up to three centimetres on targeted areas. Under the terms of the consent agreement, Beiersdorf is required to immediately remove the products from Canadian shelves. Beiersdorf has also agreed to pay an administrative monetary penalty of $300,000, and to refund the purchase price and shipping costs to Canadian customers.

Read the press release.