Lok Sabha Question No. 2055 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Misleading Advertisements
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD, SANTOSH AHLAWAT

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2055 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2017

## MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENTS

2055. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI: DR. BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk/k vkSj lkoZtfud foRrj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of recent study conducted by Centre for Science and Environment where in it was revealed that information on food packets of several popular brands of snacks, health drinks, cooking oil, noodles, etc. are misleading and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Advertising  Standards  Council  of  India  is  a  self-regulatory  body  and  doesn't  have punitive powers resulting in above instances;
- (c) whether it is true that Food Safety Regulations issued in 2011 make it mandatory for companies to declare energy, protein, fat, sugar, etc., to be specified on packets and if so, the manner in which the Ministry is planning to ensure correct labelling on packets;
- (d) whether lots of consumers are cheated by misleading advertisements and unrealistic claims by some companies, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government is planning to impose Rs. 10 lakh fine and one year ban on celebrities who endorses products making unrealistic claims and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  : As  informed  by  the  Food  Safety  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI),  no  such  information  is available with them.
- (b) : The Advertisement Standards Council of India is a self-regulatory organization for the advertising industry and doesn't have punitive powers. Department of Consumer Affairs has signed an MOU with ASCI to process the complaints against misleading advertisements.
- (c) : Yes, Madam. Provision for declaration of energy,  protein, fat, sugar  on  the  label  of  pre-packaged foods  has  been  prescribed  under  sub-regulation  2.2.2(3)  of  Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Packaging  and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.

Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products are being done by the Officials of the Food Safety Departments of the respective States/UTs to check compliance of the standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder.  In  cases  where  the  food  samples  are  found  to  be  non-conforming,  recourse  is  taken  to  penal action under Chapter IX of the FSS Act, 2006.

- (d) : The Government is aware of the fact that some consumers are cheated by misleading advertisements and  unrealistic  claims  by  some  companies.  The  Government  has  launched  an  online  portal  'Grievance Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA)'  for  handling the complaints relating to misleading advertisements.  3140  complaints  relating  to  misleading  advertisements  have  been  received  through  this portal from March, 2015 till dated.
- (e) : Government  has  proposed  some  deterrent  steps    on  the  celebrities  who  endorse  products  making unrealistic claims in the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015.