Lok Sabha Question No. 1283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Advertisement of AYUSH Medicines
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Manoj Rajoria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 1283 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH JUNE, 2019

## ADVERTISEMENT OF AYU SH MEDICINES

## 1283. DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will  the  Minister of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND  NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has devised a mechanism to deal with the companies which resor misleading  advertisements  to  allure  the  custom ers  by  deceptive  claims  about  the  effect  of AYUSH medicines;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of companies against whom the act been taken by the Government during the last two years; and
- (c) the manner in which the Governmen t is taking up the matter with the State/UT Governments for monitoring the advertisements pertaining to the AYUSH medicines?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a)& (b):       Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Ru thereunder    encompass  the  provisions  for  prohibition  of  misleading  advertisements exaggerated claims of drugs and medicinal substances including AYUSH medicines and for the penalty to be imposed on the defaulters.  Central Government notified amendment of the D & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 on 24 th December, 2018 to insert Rule 170 specifically for controllin g inappropriate  advertisements  of  Ayurvedic,  Siddha  and  Unani  medicines.  Considering  t emerging  situation  of  misleading  advertisements,  Ministry  of  AYUSH  signed  MoU  with Advertising  Standards  Council  of  India  (ASCI)  for  two  years  to  undertake  monitoring of AYUSH - related  advertisements  in  the  print  and  television  media  and  bring  the  cas contravention of legal provisions to the notice of the State Regulatory Authorities for action.  Similarly, Department of Consumers Affairs has set up an onl ine system called GAMA ((Grievances  Against  Misleading  Advertisements)  portal  for  registering  public  complain misleading  advertisements  of  various  commodities  including  AYUSH  medicines  and  allied products. As  a  result  of  monitoring  by  ASCI,    732  cas es  of  misleading  advertisements  of AYUSH  were  reported  in  2017 - 18  and  497  cases  in  2018 - 19.    Out  of  which  456  cases  of violation of Drugs & Magic Remedies Act, 1954 in 2017 - 18  and 203 cases in 2018 - 19    have been  escalated  to  the    State  Regulators  for  takin g  necessary  action  in  accordance  with  legal provisions.

(c):       In order to check the veracity of misleading advertisements of AYUSH medi State/UT Governments are empowered to enforce the legal provisions under Drugs & Cosmetic Act, 1940, Drug s & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and rules there under.  State /UT authorities have been directed for appointing Gazetted Officers under s (1) of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 to  e nter, search any  premises    or  examine  or  seize  any  record  which  contravenes  any  provisions  of  the related to the alleged misleading or improper advertisements.  States/UTs are reported appointed  Gazetted  Officers/Nodal  Officers  for  this  purpos e  and  actions  initiated  against  the cases of default.  Pharmacovigilance Centres for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopat Drugs set up in different parts of the country under the Central Scheme of Ministry of A are mandated to monitor and report mis leading advertisements to the respective state authoritie These  pharmacovigilance  centres  have  reported  1127  cases  of  misleading  advertisements AYUSH from August 2018 to March 2019.

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