Lok Sabha Question No. 126 (STARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: e-Commerce Policies
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री (श्री पीयूष गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STARRED QUESTION NO. 126.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2021.

## E-COMMERCE POLICIES

## *126.  SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has decided to revise e-commerce policies to restrict online sales activities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has also decided to define the online sale of commodities including  medicines; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 126 FOR ANSWER ON 10.02.2021.

| (a) & (b):   | The present policy framework on e-commerce activities, spread across various aspects, aims at promoting e-commerce and various rules have been put in place to ensure fair competition and consumer protection. The Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules, 2020 were issued on July 23, 2020 to provide for consumer grievance redressal and to clearly delineate liability and responsibilities of e-commerce platforms.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
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| (c) & (d):   | Considering the cross-cutting nature of e-Commerce, different laws and regulations across sectors govern the present e-Commerce activities. The FDI Policy defines e-commerce as the buying and selling of goods and services, including digital products over digital and electronic network. This is akin to the definition prescribed in the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Central Government vide Gazette Notification No. 817(E) dated August 28, 2018 had published the draft e-pharmacy rules wherein 'sale by way of e-pharmacy' is defined as a sale whether to a hospital or dispensary or a medical, educational or research institute or to any other person through e-pharmacy by way of retail sale. These Rules are under Stakeholder consultations. |

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