MUMBAI: The Beijing government has barred the country's television stars from promoting health products.

The stars have been asked to stop playing doctors or patients in television commercials which promote health or cosmetic products.

The government has ordered all local television stations to stop broadcasting ads in which actors playing characters who talk about the effects of health, medicine and cosmetics products, says the news report.

"It's improper for public figures, including film and TV stars, to promote products in ads as consumers. They may easily mislead the public," Xinhua news agency quoted a city official as saying.

Chinese television has many of its stars pushing products ranging from suits to motorcycles. Even foreign stars, including sports personalities, accept offers from Chinese advertisers.

"Stars can have a great effect on the public's impressions of products, and businesses deliberately use popular celebrity worship to stimulate people's desire to buy," an unnamed Beijing official was quoted in news reports as saying.