Lok Sabha Question No. 1221 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Misleading Advertisements of AYUSH Medicines
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Vijay Kumar, Geeta Kora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th  February, 2024

'Misleading Advertisements of AYUSH Medicines'

## 1221. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR: SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any plans to formulate any comprehensive policy to prevent the companies/institutions engaging in unfair/false/misleading advertisements of AYUSH medicines/products and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has taken any action against the companies/institutions for such offences/cases and if so, the details thereof along with the details of action taken against and penalty imposed on them; (c) whether most of such firms have been let off with only warning and due to lack of strict action, these firms start such advertisements again; and (d) if so, whether the Government proposes to enact a strict law regarding the said issue and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) to  (d)  Yes  Sir.  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 Government has taken note thereof. State/UT Governments  are  empowered  to  enforce  the  provisions  of  Drugs  &  Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 & Rules thereunder.

Pharmacovigilance Centres for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) Drugs set up in different parts of the country under the Central Sector 'Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana  Scheme'  (AOGUSY Scheme) of Ministry of Ayush, are mandated to monitor  and  report  the  misleading  advertisements  to  the  respective  State Regulatory  Authorities.  A  three  tier  structure  comprising  of  a  National Pharmacovigilance Co-ordination Centre (NPvCC), Intermediary Pharmacovigilance Centres (IPvCs) and Peripheral PharmacovigilanceCentres (PPvCs)  is  established.  All  India  Institute  of  Ayurveda  (AIIA),  New  Delhi under  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  the  National  Pharmacovigilance  Co-ordination Centre  (NPvCC) for the  implementation  of the  National  Pharmacovigilance program for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy drugs.

Under the Pharmacovigilance Program, objectionable/misleading advertisements  are  regularly  reported  to  the  respective  State  Licensing Authorities for initiating action against the defaulters. Till date approximately 357  brands  have  been  issued  the  notice  for  exploiting  the  Drugs  and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

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.

Further,  under  the  provisions  of  the  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019, the  Central  Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been established to regulate  matters  relating  to  the  violation  of  the  rights  of  consumers,  unfair trade  practices,  and  false  or  misleading  advertisements.  Further,  CCPA  has notified  guidelines  for  the  prevention  of  misleading  advertisements  and endorsements for misleading advertisements, issued on 9th June 2022. These guidelines encompass various provisions, including:

- (a) Conditions for an advertisement to be non-misleading and valid;
- (b) Certain  stipulations  in  respect  of  bait  advertisements  and  free  claim advertisements; and,
- (c) Duties  of  manufacturer,  service  provider,  advertiser  and  advertising agency.

These  guidelines  are  applicable  to  manufacturers,  service  providers,  or traders whose goods, products, or services are featured in an advertisement. Additionally, they apply  to  advertising  agencies  and  endorsers  whose services are utilized for the promotion of such goods, products, or services.

Further, as per the information received from  various State/  UTs government, the details of action taken on Misleading Advertisement are at Annexure-I.

*********

## Details of the action taken on Misleading Advertisement:

|   S. No. | Name of the State/UT   | Information received from State/ UT government                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Tamil Nadu             | License of Asthra Power Tonic Capsule & Cream of M/s. Pee Gee Pharma, No. 2/143, Sivadapuram, had been suspended for one month for illegal advertisement with false claim. License of Boraxine Ointment of M/s. Ancient Pharma, Ayyanarpuram, had been suspended for one month for illegal advertisement with false claim. License of SegroPlus Capsule, MusliSegro Capsule & Kamana Capsule of M/s. Shankaralaya Herbals Pvt Ltd, Mangalanagar, Chennai had been suspended for one month for illegal advertisement with false claim. |
|        2 | Delhi                  | Show cause notices/Memorandums have been issued to the companies/entities for offenses/cases of misleading advertisements on Ayush medicines. A total of 125 show cause notices have been served in the last 3 years and subsequent warning are issued after checking that the misleading advertisements have been taken down.                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|        3 | Andhra Pradesh         | The Regional Research Institute (Homoeopathy) in Gudivada, A.P. filed a complaint against M/s. Sri Manjunath Ayurvedic Pvt. Ltd. for their product SMA Navya Hair Oil. The misleading advertisement on social media claimed rapid hair growth on bald heads within a week, the ability to regrow hair in just five days, and immediate and permanent transformation of white hair to black. The Inspector & Licensing Authority issued a notice on 09/10/2023, requiring an immediate                                                 |

|    |                   | explanation from M/s. Sri Manjunath Ayurvedic Pvt. Ltd..                                                                                                             | explanation from M/s. Sri Manjunath Ayurvedic Pvt. Ltd..                                                                                                             |
|----|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  4 | Karnataka         | The details of the action taken against misleading advertisements during the last 3 years is below:                                                                  | The details of the action taken against misleading advertisements during the last 3 years is below:                                                                  |
|  4 | Karnataka         |                                                                                                                                                                      | No. of notices issued                                                                                                                                                |
|  4 | Karnataka         |                                                                                                                                                                      | 392                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  4 | Karnataka         |                                                                                                                                                                      | 354                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  4 | Karnataka         |                                                                                                                                                                      | 139                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  5 | Puducherry        | Action has been initiated for 6 out of the 9 identified cases, and the same has been forwarded to the Law Department, Puducherry for concurrence to proceed legally. | Action has been initiated for 6 out of the 9 identified cases, and the same has been forwarded to the Law Department, Puducherry for concurrence to proceed legally. |
|  6 | Gujarat           | Details at Annexure-II                                                                                                                                               | Details at Annexure-II                                                                                                                                               |
|  7 | Jammu and Kashmir | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  8 | Arunachal Pradesh | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  |
|  9 | Mizoram           | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 10 | Odisha            | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 11 | Chhattisgarh      | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  | Nil                                                                                                                                                                  |

## DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF DMR Act-1954 AGAINST FIRM

## DURING YEAR 2021

|   S.no | Name of Mfgr. / Distributor              | Subject / Product name   | Actions                                                                                              |
|--------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | M/s. Giniva Pharma., Ahmedabad, Gujarat  | Best-Toner Cap.          | Assistant Commissioner, Ahmedabad-1 is asked to inquire                                              |
|      2 | M/s. Jagat Pharma, U.P.                  | Isotine Eye Drop         | S.C.N. issued to the firm and referred to the D.C. U.P.                                              |
|      3 | M/s. Indo Herbal Products (Unit 2), U.K. | Roop Mantra              | Assistant Commissioner, Bhuj is asked to inquire                                                     |
|      4 | M/s. Shree Dhanwantri Herbals, Punjab    | Sachi Saheli             | Assistant Commissioner, Bhuj is asked to inquire                                                     |
|      5 | M/s. Kumar Products, Ahmedabad           | Cardisip Syrup           | S.C.N. issued to the firm and Assistant Commissioner, Ahmedabad-1 is asked to inquire and to report. |
|      6 | M/s. UPS Ayurvedic Medical Store, Valsad | Dr. Chella's OncoBAN     | Assistant Commissioner, Valsad is asked to inquire                                                   |

## DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF DMR Act-1954 AGAINST FIRM DURING LAST ONE YEAR-2022

| S. no                                                                                    | Name of Mfgr. / Distributor                                                              | Subject / Product name                                                                   | Actions                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.                                                                                       | M/s. Sheth Brothers, Bhavnagar, Gujarat                                                  | KAYAMAyurvedic Tablet                                                                    | Assistant Commissioner, Bhavnagar is asked to inquire                                    |
| 2.                                                                                       | M/s. Darsh Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat                                         | Menoleaf Syrup                                                                           | S.C.N. issued to the firm and A.C. Ahmedabad(Rural) is asked to inquire                  |
| 3.                                                                                       | M/s. Healwell International Ltd., Mehsana, Gujarat                                       | Vigoral-LA Liquid                                                                        | SCN issued to the firm &ACMehsana is asked to inquire and report                         |
| 4.                                                                                       | M/s, SBL P. Ltd., Haridwar, Uttrakhand                                                   | SBL Drops No. 6                                                                          | Assistant Commissioner, Bhavnagar is asked to inquire                                    |
| DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF DMRAct-1954 AGAINST FIRM DURING LAST ONE YEAR-2023 | DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF DMRAct-1954 AGAINST FIRM DURING LAST ONE YEAR-2023 | DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF DMRAct-1954 AGAINST FIRM DURING LAST ONE YEAR-2023 | DETAILS OF ACTION TAKEN IN RESPECT OF DMRAct-1954 AGAINST FIRM DURING LAST ONE YEAR-2023 |
| S. No.                                                                                   | Name of Mfgr. / Distributor                                                              | Subject / Product name                                                                   | Actions                                                                                  |
| 1.                                                                                       | Bhargava Phytolab Pvt. Ltd.                                                              | Artharal Tablets                                                                         | S.C.N. issued to the firm and referred to the D.C. Rajasthan                             |

|   2. | Complain of Institute of Teaching& Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar   | Dr. Ortho Ayurvedic Oil Cap & Spray, Sex Samasyao, Harass Bhagandar, Fissure, Hempushpa, Kailas Jivan multipurpose, Roop mantra, Collegian Cream, Eye Cream, my fair sunscreen, face wash, soap & cream, Jhansi Baidyanath, Da'zeagra Japani ande Japani-f- capsul, right sugar tablets, charturbhuj oil and capsul petsaffa, divya Patanjali, Ayurvedic various product   | All Assistant Commissioner of Circle Offices are asked to inquire and to report   |
|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    3 | Complain of Institute of Teaching& Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar   | Dr. Ortho Ayurvedic Oil Cap. & Spray. Sex Samasyao, Harass Bhaganadar-Fissure, Hempushpa, kailas jivan multipurpose collagisn cream, da zeager. petsaffa, piramal nutrioallax-a, vita-ex oil & vita x gold plus capsuls, brumex forte fly above, torque "sorthomac gel                                                                                                     | All Assistant Commissioner of Circle Offices are asked to inquire and to report   |
|    4 | Complain of Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar  | Dr. Ortho Ayurvedic Oil Cap. & Spray, Sex Samasyao, Harass Bhaganadar-Fissure, Hempushpa, collagisn cream,da"zeager. petsaffa,piramal nutrioallax-a, vita-ex oil & vita x gold plus                                                                                                                                                                                        | All Assistant Commissioner of Circle Offices are asked to inquire and to report   |

|    |                                                                          | capsuls, brumex forte fly above, torque"sorthomac gel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                 |
|----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  5 | Complain of Institute of Teaching& Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar | Dr. Ortho Ayurvedic Oil Cap. & Spray, Sex Samasyao, Harass Bhaganadar-Fissure, Hempushpa, kailas jivan multipurpose ,Roop Mantra, Collegian Cream, Eye Cream. my fair sunscreen face wash, soap & cream, Jhansi Baidyanath, da'zeagra japani ande japani-f capsul,right sugar tablets, chaturbhuj oil and capsul, petsaffa, divya patanjali ayurvedic various product, kabja har, sachi saheli, ichku ointment | All Assistant Commissioner of Circle Offices are asked to inquire and to report |
|  6 | Complain of Institute of Teaching& Research in Ayurveda (ITRA)           | Dr. Ortho Ayurvedic Oil Cap. & Spray, Sex Samasyao, Harass Bhaganadar-Fissure, Hempushpa kailas jivan multipurpose Collegian Cream, Jhansı Baidyanath. da'zcagra polsalfa, kabja har, sachi saheli, ichku ointment mahabhigraj haie oil, baidnath amla juice & alpvera juice, baidyanath ayudant, havabana harde and jaljeera, baidyanaalgh sundari sakhi, brumax, parimal naturolax-a,                        | All Assistant Commissioner of Circle Offices are asked to inquire and to report |

|    |                                                                | kayam churna advance granules, jakhme rooz gulabi malam, aamlahari tab                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                 |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  7 | Complain of Institute of Teaching& Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) | Mahabhingarajm hair oil, Patanjali dant kanti, Baidyanath Sudarshan ghanvati, Sachi saheli syrup, Eye Mantra Eye Drops, Dr. Ortho Ayurvedic Oil Cap. & Spray, Pet Saffa, D-Sona Ayurvedic Gum Care Powder, Kailas Jeevan, Magics hair care, Fat-Go Cap. & Apple Cider Vinegar, Vaseer Gel & Cap. Roppmantra Ayur. Face Cream & face washes, baidyanaath sundari sakhi, baidyanaath Ayudant, Kabja Har, baidyanaath Joint Care Products - baidyanath Run Out Products, Havabana Harde, Divisa All | All Assistant Commissioner of Circle Offices are asked to inquire and to report |
|  8 | Complain of Institute of Teaching& Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) | Dr. Ortho Ayurvedic Oil Cap. & Spray, sachi saheli syrup, Eye Mantra Eye Drops, Pet Saffa, Fat-Go Cap. & Apple Cider Vinegar, Roppmantra Ayur. Face Cream & face washes. Kabja Har/Trifala Churna, Gesari Pills, Malsuddhivati Tab.,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | All Assistant Commissioner of Circle Offices are asked to inquire and to report |

| baidyanath Kesari Kalp, Woodard's Gripe Water, baidyanath Vita-Ex/mall Tail, Trichup hair Control, Dhootpapeshwar Shipravang Special, Jolly Tulsi 51 Drops, Dhootpapeshwar Swamala Gold, baidyanath Healthly Hair Products, Kayam Churna Advance Grules, Jambola Liquid And Cap.. Jolly Vasser Gel & Cap., Mahivala Pain-balm strong, Rosalin Liniment, Nicogel Pro, baidyanaath Joint Care Products.   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|