CCPA tells e-commerce platforms to sell drugs only after valid prescription of medical practitioner
New Delhi, July 14 (Agency) The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has directed e-commerce entities to sell Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani products, only after users upload valid prescriptions of a medical practitioner. ”E-commerce platforms have been advised that the sale or facilitating the sale of such drugs shall be done, only after a valid prescription of a registered Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani practitioner, respectively is uploaded by the user on the platform.
Consuming such drugs without medical supervision can lead to severe health complications,” an official statement said on Thursday. ”As per Rule 161(2) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, the container of a medicine for internal use for the treatment of human ailments shall, if it is made up of a substance specified in Schedule E (1), be labelled conspicuously with the words “Caution: To be taken under medical supervision” both in English and Hindi language,” it said. The Ministry of Ayush had issued a public notice on February 1, 2016, informing the stakeholders that the drugs are required to be taken under medical supervision and purchasing the same online should be avoided without medical consultation. CCPA said it was consistently monitoring the issues affecting consumer welfare. Recently, it had issued guidelines to prevent unfair trade practices and protection of consumer interests with regard to levy of service charges in hotels and restaurants. CCPA has also issued guidelines for the prevention of misleading advertisements and endorsements, to the protect consumers.
To safeguard consumer rights while shopping online, CCPA has issued an Advisory to all marketplace e-commerce entities to ensure that the details of sellers as mandated under sub-rule (5) of rule 6 of the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020, including name and contact number of the grievance officer are provided in a clear and accessible manner, displayed prominently to users on the platform. It has also issued safety notices under Section 18(2)(j) of the Act to alert and caution consumers against buying goods, which do not hold a valid ISI Mark and violate compulsory BIS standards. While the first safety notice was issued with regard to helmets, pressure cookers and cooking gas cylinders, the second safety notice was issued with regard to household goods, including electric immersion water heaters, sewing machines, microwave ovens and domestic gas stoves with LPG.