China's pharmaceutical watchdog has exposed nine companies across the country for publishing illegal advertisements that exaggerated the effects of their products, according to the food and drug administration Tuesday.

The names of the companies were identified by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in a statement released Tuesday, involving products such as capsules, teas and herbal pills.

Four companies were located in northeast China's Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang Provinces, which are home to many large medical groups.

Some of the illegal ads also claimed effectiveness in the name of experts and patients.

The cases of these illegal ads were transferred to industry and business management departments for investigation and punishment.

China has been strengthening the crackdown on illegal medical ads, punishing wrongdoers by suspending the sales of the products and even stripping their advertisement licenses.

Illegal medical ads mislead consumers and "pose severe threats to the safety and health of the public", said the statement.

The SFDA also announced Tuesday that the country has kicked off a nationwide project that requires all medical companies to re-register their products in an attempt to ensure drug safety by washing out unqualified enterprises.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2009)