CCPA imposed penalties on 3 companies for their misleading advertisements; Check Complete details

CCPA imposed penalties on 3 companies for their misleading advertisements: The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today informed that based on the notices issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) against misleading advertisements by companies, 13 companies withdrew misleading advertisements and 3 companies agreed for corrective advertisement. CCPA has also imposed penalties on 3 companies for their misleading advertisements. CCPA has recently issued two Safety Notices to alert and make consumers cautious against buying household goods that do not conform to BIS standards. An advisory has also been issued to industry associations highlighting the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and to impress upon their members to cease making false claims about effectiveness against coronavirus which are not supported by competent and duly authorized scientific advice

Under the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, the Consumer Protection Commission (CCPA) was founded on July 24, 2020 to regulate concerns such as inaccurate or misleading advertisements that are harmful to the public’s and consumers’ interests. The CCPA has the authority to order the relevant trader, manufacturer, endorser, advertiser, or publisher, as the case may be, to stop or amend the advertisement. The Consumer Protection Act of 2019 also allows the CCPA to fine a manufacturer, endorser, or publisher, as well as a competent court to imprison and fine any manufacturer or service provider who is held accountable for a false or deceptive advertisement.

All advertising broadcast on private satellite TV channels must follow the Advertising Code established by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, and the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994. In circumstances where the Advertising Code is broken, appropriate action is taken.

Food Business Operators are responsible for the packaging and labelling of food products under Section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, while deceptive ads and unfair commercial practises are prohibited under Section 24.

On November 19, 2018, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published the Food Safety and Standards (advertising and Claims) Regulations. These rules attempt to ensure that claims and ads for food items are fair, and that food enterprise are held accountable for such claims/advertisements in order to protect consumer interests.