Lok Sabha Question No. 993 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Misleading Advertisements of AYUSH Products
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 993

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  July, 2025

'Misleading Advertisements of AYUSH Products'

993. Shri K C Venugopal:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the various concerns raised due to the directive to State licensing authorities to disregard Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which aims to prevent misleading advertisements of AYUSH products and if so, the details thereof.
- (b)  whether  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  consumer  protection  and  prevent  the dissemination of unverified claims by AYUSH product manufacturers and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether there are plans to revise or strengthen guidelines under Rule 170 in response to these concerns; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the timeline for implementing such revisions?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## ANSWER (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) ,  (c)  and  (d)  Ministry  of  Ayush  vide  Gazette  notification  no.-  G.S.R.  360(E)  dated 01.07.2024 omitted Rule 170 of the Drugs Rules, 1945 based on recommendations from the Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board (ASUDTAB). Further, Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  Ind ia  vide  its  order  dated  27.08.2024  in  W.P.  (CIVIL) NO.645/2022 has stayed the notification of omission of Rule 170 of the Drugs Rules, 1945 till further orders. The Rule 170 of the Drugs Rules, 1945 is subjudice.
- (b) The  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  consumer  protection  and  prevent  the dissemination of unverified claims by Ayush product manufacturers are as follows: -
1. The Pharmacovigilance Program for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU & H) Drugs has been implemented under Central Sector  Scheme Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY), which work

through a three-tier network of a  National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPvCC), Five Intermediary Pharmacovigilance Centers (IPvCs) and 97 Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centers (PPvCs) established across the country. These centres are mandated to monitor and report misleading advertisements to the respective State Regulatory Authorities for suitable action against the defaulter. Objectives of this  program  is  to  keep  vigilance  over  Ayush  drugs  and  to  reduce  misleading advertisements to ensure the consumer protection and prevent the dissemination of unverified claims by Ayush product manufacturers.

2. Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules thereunder encompass the provisions for prohibition of misleading advertisements and  exaggerated  claims  of  drugs  and  medicinal  substances  including  Ayush medicines, which appear in the print and electronic media and Ministry of Ayush has issued advisories and gives direction to SLAs to enforce and regulate as per the provision of this Act.
3. Ministry of Ayush has issued a public notice on 08.10.2024, informing the general public about the facts regarding ASU&H drugs/medicines and urging them to avoid patronizing  misleading  advertisements,  which  was  published  in  100  leading newspapers across India in Hindi, English, and several regional languages.
4. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) maintains the Grievances Against Misleading  Advertisements  (GAMA)  portal,  providing  a  platform  to  address instances of misleading advertisements. Further, as the regulations and enforcement for  TV  Channels  falls  under  the  mandate  of  Ministry  of  Information  and Broadcasting  (MoIB),  therefore  references  of  misleading  advertisement  getting broadcasted on TV channels are forwarded to MoIB for action.
5. Ministry of Ayush has developed and launched an IT enabled online portal 'Ayush Suraksha' for  Ayush  Health  care  professionals  and  general  public  to  track  the reported misleading advertisements (MLAs)/Objectionable Advertisements (OAs) and Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) on 30th May 2025.

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