Mint Primer: Why are online sellers warned about legal metrology?

What are these companies accused of?

According to CNBC-TV18, the CCPA, part of the consumer affairs ministry, has issued notices to 11 online sellers, including Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and Meesho, for allegedly failing to provide basic product information such as production and expiration date. They are also accused of violating other packaging and labeling standards – these also apply to producers and wholesalers of consumer goods. The CCPA sent the notices after hundreds of consumers complained that perishable products were delivered close to or after their expiration date. The media reported that companies had 15 days to respond.

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What does the law say about packaged goods?

The 2011 amendment to the Legal Metrology Act 2009 states that each packaged item must bear information regarding its weight, quantity of goods, dimensions (where applicable, e.g. clothing), production and expiry dates (or minimum durability). before use). ), manufacturer’s details and maximum retail price. All data must be printed in “standard units”, such as rupees for price, grams and kilograms for weight. The law specifies even more detail how products should be labeled. By law, all information must be printed in English or Hindi in Devanagari script, but sellers can provide other languages ​​as well.

What happens if these companies are found guilty?

Legal metrology officials can inspect and seize any quantity of goods suspected of violating the Act. Penalties can range from ₹10,000 to several lakhs. Recidivists face up to a year in prison and a fine. CCPA officials may also ask these online sellers to provide them with a list of dealers and brands from which they may have received the defective merchandise.

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What other provisions can the CCPA invoke?

Last November, the CCPA introduced guidelines aimed at preventing online platforms from using dark patterns to defraud customers. These guidelines identify 13 categories of dark patterns, including cart shaming, false urgency and subscription traps. E-commerce companies are also subject to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Regulations 2020. Last week, the CCPA introduced guidelines designed to protect consumers from “eco-shaming” – misleading claims made by brands about sustainability and environmental impact.

Will it be harder for sellers to advertise?

Seemingly yes. In addition to CCPA actions, other rulings may also impact them. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that all advertisers must certify every advertisement they run online on the Press Council of India (PCI) website and obtain a self-declaration certificate. This was part of a ruling against misleading advertisements run by Baba Ramdev’s consumer firm Patanjali Ayurved. There are nearly 118,000 advertisements registered on the PCI portal. And this is only a fraction of the actual number of ads we see on the Internet.

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