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CCPA Probes Amazon, Flipkart Over Sale of Unregistered Herbicide

India's consumer rights watchdog, the CCPA, has launched an investigation into major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and JioMart over the online sale of an unregistered agrochemical product called Cyclosinone Herbicide. The regulator issued notices to the platforms, which have since removed the product listings and are examining seller accounts for further action. The probe follows a complaint by the Crop Care Federation of India, alleging the product was sold without regulatory approval under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and lacked critical safety information. The CCPA is seeking details on listing dates, seller information, and compliance systems to ensure adherence to laws governing hazardous substances.

Key Points: CCPA Probes Amazon, Flipkart Over Unregistered Herbicide Sale

  • CCPA investigates Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and JioMart over unregistered herbicide sale
  • Product Cyclosinone Herbicide sold without regulatory approval under Insecticides Act
  • Companies removed listings; probe focuses on due diligence and seller details
  • Complaint by Crop Care Federation flagged missing safety info on active ingredients
2 min read

CCPA probes Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho over sale of 'unregistered' Herbicide Cyclosinone

India's CCPA investigates Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and JioMart for selling unregistered Cyclosinone Herbicide, citing safety and regulatory violations.

"Product listings and promotional material failed to disclose critical details such as the active ingredient and exact chemical composition - Crop Care Federation of India"

New Delhi, May 16

India's consumer rights watchdog on Saturday launched an investigation into major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and JioMart, over the online sale and promotion of an allegedly unregistered agrochemical product sold as "Cyclosinone Herbicide".

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), functioning under the Department of Consumer Affairs, issued notices to the platforms seeking an explanation on their due diligence mechanisms and directing them to immediately remove the product listings.

According to an official statement, the companies informed the regulator that the listings had been taken down and that seller accounts associated with the product were being examined for further action.

The matter is currently under detailed investigation, the authority said.

Cyclosinone Herbicide was being marketed online as a weed-control chemical intended to eliminate or suppress unwanted weeds, grasses and broadleaf plants across farms, orchards, lawns and landscaped areas. However, concerns were raised over the legality and safety of the product, with authorities alleging that it was being sold without proper regulatory approval.

The CCPA has asked the e-commerce companies to furnish details, including the date when the product was first listed, the duration for which it remained available on their platforms, the total number of listings since January 2024, and information relating to sellers linked to the product.

The regulator has also sought details of the compliance and due diligence systems used by the platforms to ensure adherence to laws governing the online sale of hazardous substances.

The probe follows a complaint routed through the Agriculture Ministry based on representations made by the Crop Care Federation of India. The federation alleged that Cyclosinone Herbicide was being promoted and sold online despite not being regulated under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

Under Section 18 of the Act, no person is permitted to sell, stock, distribute, transport or use any pesticide that has not been registered under the law.

The complaint further alleged that product listings and promotional material failed to disclose critical details such as the active ingredient and exact chemical composition, potentially depriving consumers -- especially farmers -- of essential safety and usage information.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Siddharth J
CCPA is doing good work, but let's not forget the farmers are the real victims here. They buy these products thinking they'll help their crops, but end up causing more harm. E-commerce companies should have stricter checks before listing anything related to agriculture. High time!
P
Priya S
Good step by CCPA. But I think the government should also look into why farmers are turning to online platforms for such products in the first place. Are local shops not stocking registered pesticides? Or is it a matter of pricing and convenience? Inquiry needs to go deeper. 🤔
M
Manish T
I agree with the crackdown, but I also feel we need to understand the perspective of small sellers who might not have known about the registration requirements. The platforms should have better onboarding processes and educate sellers about compliance. It's not just about punishment, but prevention too.
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Nisha Z
What I don't understand is why this wasn't caught earlier. These platforms have algorithms to detect fake products, but they couldn't spot an unregistered pesticide? Something doesn't add up. Either the due diligence is a sham, or the penalties need to be much higher for repeat offenders. 🙄
R
Raghav A
Excellent move by CCPA. Too often we see hazardous products being sold without proper oversight on these platforms. As a country, we need to ensure that our farmers get safe and effective products, not something that could harm their land and health. Hope this leads to a broader reform in online agro product sales. 🌾
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