Taiwan regulators have buzzed ointment brand Burt’s Bees with a nearly $20,000 fine for false advertising, the nation’s fair trade regulators said yesterday. The Taiwan Fair Trade Commission said the company had claimed in advertisements its herbal insect repellent was the only product of its type that could be directly applied to human skin.

The commission said that the ads were misleading and in violation of Article 21 of the Fair Trade Act as the Taiwan Department of Health stipulates that, with the exception of essential oils, all insect repellents that are rubbed or sprayed directly onto the skin must be approved by the department before they can be legally sold.

Commentary: Good company. Honest mistake. Who would of known? It’s not always easy to keep up with local regulatory requirements – particularly when you are a small company.