The action -- affecting ads for Saijo Denki, Amena, LG, Carrier, Hitachi, Panasonic, Samsung, York, Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric Mr Slim and Mitsubishi Heavy Duty -- comes at the height of the summer peak sales season, when some 40 per cent of aircon sales take place.
Thailand's aircon market is also currently enjoying a boom. About 40,000 new housing and condo units are expected to enter the residential pool in Bangkok and its immediate vicinity this year, representing potential demand for 550,000 air-conditioner units.
The board received complaints about the claims, and met with the aircon makers, said investigations officer, Vara Nipitsukarn. "We asked them if they could prove (the claims) and they couldn't, so we fined them and sent the matter to the Thai Industrial Standards Institute."
TISI is testing the models for the accuracy of the claims, he said. The models in question claim technology that allows them to not only cool a room but also remove up to 99.99 per cent of dust particles and viruses. Sources say some print ads have returned to circulation, minus the claim.
Consumer board pulls Thai ads of 11 air-con brands
Thailand's Consumer Protection Board (CPB) has pulled the ads of 11 air-conditioner models over germ-killing claims, and fined the advertisers 50,000 baht (US$1,265) each for making unsubstantiated assertions.