UP GOVERNMENT IS REALLY CONCERNED OF VIOLATIONS IN E-COMMERCE BUSINESS

UP Govt urges e-commerce giants to comply with Legal Metrology packaging rules amid rising violations – 516 cases recorded, ₹1.93 Cr in fines imposed (TOI 4th April, 2025)

Of Late, it is being noticed that the Legal Metrology Officers are increasingly focussed on e-commerce business and fervently taking action under The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 invoking related provisions of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (PCR). After insertion of sub-rule (10) to rule 6 of PCR whereby it has been made equally mandatory that the information, which is required to be declared on retail packages, shall also be displayed on digital and electronic networks being used for e-commerce transactions. This is so happening because, in most of the cases, either the e-commerce entities have failed in displaying mandatory information on their online network in conformity with legal provisions, or the marketplace modelled e-commerce platforms are found wanting to ensure required diligent efforts for such compliance.

                The seriousness of such flagrant non-compliance, wherein 516 contraventions have been recorded for penal action resulting in Rs. 1.93 Crore sum of compounding being deposited to government exchequer in the state of Uttar Pradesh alone within a period one year, nudged the concerned state authorities and, consequently, a short notice meeting was arranged to sensitise the entities, as well as platforms, to operate fully compliant in the state. In the meeting held at Lucknow on 2nd April, 2025 presided over by the Principal Secretary of state’s Consumer Affairs Ministry in which an evocative presentation was given by the Controller of Legal Metrology, UP, it was also called upon all the stakeholders that the government shall not remain lackadaisical where consumer interest is at stake, and they must fall in line of law within next one month.

                It has been brought to the notice, while the e-commerce entities are failing to provide accurate and adequate quantity information, selling price is not indicated that this is inclusive of all taxes or the country of origin in case of imported pre-packages is also not being displayed, the marketplace modelled platforms are found mostly dithering to display actual marketer or packer or the importer of the commodity. Irrespective of whether this is deliberate or innocuous on the part of online business operators, core of concern for authorities is the wider consumer interest associated with such breach of law, which is likely to bear immense sufferings.

            The participant representatives included some big names in the business of e-commerce, such as Aamzon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Zepto, Myntra, Spencers, Bigbasket and Nykaa.  The Times of India, having published the news on 4th April, 2025 about this not-so-often headway moment in the state's history of Legal Metrology department has added to the earnestness of the issue.

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