Lok Sabha Question No. 3287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Guidelines on Celebrity Advertising
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  No. 3287 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15103/,2018

## GUIDELINES  ON CELEBRITY ADVERTISING

3287. SHRI VENKATESH  BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister  of INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and

be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Advertising  standards council  of India (ASCI) has released a set of guidelines  for advertisements  featuring celebrities;
- (c) the time by which the above guidelines  are likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING lcoL  RAJYAVARDHAN  RATHORE (Retd.)I

- (a)  & (b): Advertising  Standards council of India (ASCI) has released a set of Guidelines for advertisements featuring celebrities. These "Guidelines for celebrities in Advertising" were issued  in April, 2017 and were subsequenfly  updated  in september, 2017 which are available on ASCI's website i.e. https://www.ascionline.oro. The same is also enclosed  at Annexure.
- (c):  The Guidelines  are already in effect since August,  2017.

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED  TO lN PARTS  (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTTON  NO. 3287 FOB ANSWER ON 15.03.2018

## Preamble

Celebrities release

## Guidelines:

- a) Celebr'ities,  for the  purpose of this  guideline:,are famous and well-known  people who are from the field of Entertainment  and Sports and would also include  other fambus and  rwell-known  peisonalities  like Doctors' Authors,  Activists,  Educationists' etc wno  get compensated  for appearing  in advertising"'
- b) All advertisements  featuring  Celebrities should ensure that it does not violate  any of the ASCI code in letter: and spirit. Celebrities  are expected  to have qdeQ.u,ate knowledge of these Codes and it is the duty ol the AdvertisJr  and the Agency to make sure tlrat the Celebrity thevwish  to engagewith  is made aware of them'
- c) Testimonials, encjorsements  or representations  of opinions or preference of Celebrities  must reflect  genuine' reasonably  current r:pinion o{ the individual(s)  making such  representations,  an<j musi be ilal:ed':pQn -ldequale information  about or experience  wi"i ' ihe  prbduct c; servicr: being  advertised'

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- d) Celebrity should do due diligence to.ensure that all  ,:; description, claims and comparls,o-nii,,.fiade  in the-.:r advertisementstheyappearinorendorse.areCapable.of; being objectively ascertained and capabfe ofi substantiation  and should not misleadl or aonear deceptive.
- e) Celebrities should not participate in any advertisement  of a product  or treatment or remedy that is prohibited  for advertising  under
- i.  The Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 as updated from time to time (Link for preliminary  guidance http://lawmin.nic.inlld/ P- ACT/ 1 95 4  I A1 954-21.  pdf and http ://d ru gs. kar. nic. i n/ node/136.html)  or
- ii. The Drugs & Cosnretic Act 1940 and Rules 1945: (Schedule J) .as updated  from time:to time (Link for preli'min'ary guidance http :l/www. cdsco. n ic. in /writereaddata/2O1GDrugs  and Cosmetics Act 1940 & Ru les'l 945. pdf and http :// wvrnru. indianhealthservices. i n /schedu les/Schedule-J.  Pdf)
- f) Celbbrities  should not participate in any advertisements  for prodUcts which, by law, require a health warning such as ".,i-.:.....,..:  is injurious  to health" in their advertising  or pacxaging.
6. ^ . .; .. g) tf.lhe Celebrity either clirectly br thloLrgh  the ccnqerned Advertiser/Agency  chooses to seel( Advertising  Advice from ASCI ofr whethexr  ihe advertisement  potentially violates any provisions  of the ASCI code or not and if the Adve{isement is developed  fully following  the Advertising AQyige provided by the A.SCI, then the Celebrity would be considered as havinQ completed due diligence. However, ASQI'q Advertising Advice will not be construed  as pre-ciearance  of the ACrrertisement.

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l Ybu,may conlact  ,ASCI  for seeking details regarding advertising advice procedure  or iefer tnnanrv.ascionline.org

*Compehsated  RS,20 lakhs or above as per curient limit for appeqring in a single advertisement or a campaign or per year, whichever  is more AND  /  OR is listed in top 100

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