Govt may initiate action against celebrities for sub-standard endorsements
Updated: Aug 12, 2014 01:37:31pm
New Delhi, Aug 12 (KNN) The government has demanded time to contemplate action against celebrities, endorsing mass circulation of sub-standard products, as their advertisement support attract huge attraction from gullible consumers, categorically stating that strict guidelines are on cards to regulate misleading advertisements so that promotion and propagation of fake, spurious and sub-standard products are halted for good.
This was stated by Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Keshav Desiraju at a seminar on Best Business Practices for Consumer Welfare, organized under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here last week.
“The government is aware that celebrities and stars, keep endorsing products without checking and examining the efficacy of the products of mass consumption and since such endorsements attract attention of scale from vast number of consumers, the government would need time to develop a mechanism to effectively take on the issue as the prevailing system has no legal support to handle it,” Desiraju said.
He however, said that strict guidelines are being evolved in the ministry in consultation with all the right stakeholders to curb and prevent the increasing menace of misleading advertisements, pronouncing false promises and commitments to mislead the public, especially in the field of healthcare, food, tele-marketing, education, real estate and medi-care industry.
A cabinet note would be finalized to suggest amendments in the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 as also Bureau of Indian Standards Act so that host of measures are incorporated in the proposed amendments to ensure consumers genuine and quality products and force manufacturers to adopt the newly evolved standards in their manufacturing process so that they conform to new policy guidelines, indicated Desiraju.
Also speaking at the event, Direct General of Bureau of Indian Standards, Sunil Soni said that the regulatory body would also evolve a number of new standards that industry would have to conform to comply with so that products sold off in the markets are made of processes and qualities of world standards to make sure that consumers are not befooled.
He also said that hallmarking would be made mandatory for jewellery articles with government bringing about amendments to the Consumer Protection Act and Bureau of Standards Act.
Soni assured that hallmark standards could also be brought about for diamonds but the issue would have to be examined in details through an exhaustive and intensive consultation process with all stakeholders.
Other present on the occasion were Former President and Chairman, Business Practices and Awards Committee, PHD Chamber, Sanjay Bhatia; Co-Chairman, Industry Affairs Committee, PHD Chamber, Ram Poddar, and its Executive Director Saurabh Sanyal. (KNN/ES)
This was stated by Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Keshav Desiraju at a seminar on Best Business Practices for Consumer Welfare, organized under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here last week.
“The government is aware that celebrities and stars, keep endorsing products without checking and examining the efficacy of the products of mass consumption and since such endorsements attract attention of scale from vast number of consumers, the government would need time to develop a mechanism to effectively take on the issue as the prevailing system has no legal support to handle it,” Desiraju said.
He however, said that strict guidelines are being evolved in the ministry in consultation with all the right stakeholders to curb and prevent the increasing menace of misleading advertisements, pronouncing false promises and commitments to mislead the public, especially in the field of healthcare, food, tele-marketing, education, real estate and medi-care industry.
A cabinet note would be finalized to suggest amendments in the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 as also Bureau of Indian Standards Act so that host of measures are incorporated in the proposed amendments to ensure consumers genuine and quality products and force manufacturers to adopt the newly evolved standards in their manufacturing process so that they conform to new policy guidelines, indicated Desiraju.
Also speaking at the event, Direct General of Bureau of Indian Standards, Sunil Soni said that the regulatory body would also evolve a number of new standards that industry would have to conform to comply with so that products sold off in the markets are made of processes and qualities of world standards to make sure that consumers are not befooled.
He also said that hallmarking would be made mandatory for jewellery articles with government bringing about amendments to the Consumer Protection Act and Bureau of Standards Act.
Soni assured that hallmark standards could also be brought about for diamonds but the issue would have to be examined in details through an exhaustive and intensive consultation process with all stakeholders.
Other present on the occasion were Former President and Chairman, Business Practices and Awards Committee, PHD Chamber, Sanjay Bhatia; Co-Chairman, Industry Affairs Committee, PHD Chamber, Ram Poddar, and its Executive Director Saurabh Sanyal. (KNN/ES)
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