Four major e-commerce platforms – Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and JioMart – have removed listings of alleged unregistered ‘cyclocinone herbicides’ following notices issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which has now ordered a detailed investigation into the matter.In a statement issued on Saturday, the regulator said the platforms had informed it that product listings had been deleted with immediate effect and that seller accounts linked to these listings had been subject to audit.However, the CCPA said the initial responses were just a first step and directed a thorough examination of the issue.“The CCPA has placed the matter for a detailed investigation,” the regulator said.The notices were issued after the Crop Welfare Federation of India (CCFI), through the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, raised concerns over online sale and promotion of herbicides despite them not being listed under the schedule of the Insecticides Act, 1968.The complaint also alleged that product listings did not disclose basic information such as active ingredient and exact chemical identity, details considered important for making informed purchasing decisions, especially by farmers.
After its review, the CCPA said the lists lacked mandatory disclosures including the chemical composition of the product, valid license numbers and their validity period, legal warnings regarding the hazardous nature and details regarding key license certificates where required.The authority said that such an omission could lead to misleading consumers.“The Authority notes that such an omission may lead to consumers being misled,” especially farmers and agricultural users who rely on product disclosure for the safe use of agricultural chemicals, the agency said.The regulator also referred to Rule 10(e) of the Pesticides (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022, which governs the online sale of pesticides and requires e-commerce platforms to verify seller licenses before allowing the listing of such products.According to the CCPA, failure to carry out such checks may amount to breaches under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020.As part of the notices, platforms were asked to provide details including the date of initial listing, the total number of listings since January 2024, full details of participating vendors and mechanisms used to ensure regulatory compliance.“Digital convenience cannot come at the expense of consumer protection, legal noncompliance, or public safety,” the CCPA said.The authority added that it will continue to take action against misleading advertising, unfair commercial practices, and online sales of products that could pose risks to consumers, especially in sectors related to agriculture, health, and public safety.
