Amazon: Ram temple sweets sale: Amazon gets consumer watchdog notice for deceptive practice

It has asked Amazon to respond within seven days to the notice dated January 19, “failing which necessary action may be initiated against them under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019”, the government said in a news release on Friday.

“We have received a communication from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) regarding misleading product claims by certain seller(s) and investigating them for violations. In the interim, we are taking appropriate action against such listings as per our policies,” an Amazon spokesperson said.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had filed a complaint against Amazon, alleging that the marketplace was engaged in deceptive trade practices, with one of its sellers exploiting “religious sentiments for commercial gains”.

In its complaint, submitted to consumer affairs minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, the CAIT also alleged that these food products were not authentic prasad, or religious offerings, from the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Goyal is also the minister for commerce and industry.

Discover the stories of your interest

“Pursuant to the examination of (CAIT’s) representation, it has been observed that various sweets/food products are available for sale on Amazon ecommerce platform (www.amazon.in) claiming it to be ‘Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad’,” the government release said.“Enabling the sale of food products online that make false representations misleads consumers regarding the genuine characteristics of the product,” the statement said, adding that such practices would influence consumers to make purchase decisions that they might not have taken if the accurate attributes of the product were mentioned.

The matter has come up just before the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple, scheduled to take place on January 22.

This is not the first time Amazon has found itself in trouble with authorities over sale of products on its platform. In 2017, the government had taken action against the ecommerce marketplace for sale of doormats and footwear in the Indian flag’s colours on its Canadian and US portals.

“The allegations against Amazon underscore the need for stringent oversight and regulation of ecommerce platforms to ensure the protection of consumer rights,” the CAIT noted in its complaint letter to Goyal on Friday.

It has asked Amazon to respond within seven days to the notice dated January 19, “failing which necessary action may be initiated against them under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019”, the government said in a news release on Friday.

“We have received a communication from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) regarding misleading product claims by certain seller(s) and investigating them for violations. In the interim, we are taking appropriate action against such listings as per our policies,” an Amazon spokesperson said.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had filed a complaint against Amazon, alleging that the marketplace was engaged in deceptive trade practices, with one of its sellers exploiting “religious sentiments for commercial gains”.

In its complaint, submitted to consumer affairs minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, the CAIT also alleged that these food products were not authentic prasad, or religious offerings, from the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Goyal is also the minister for commerce and industry.

Discover the stories of your interest

“Pursuant to the examination of (CAIT’s) representation, it has been observed that various sweets/food products are available for sale on Amazon ecommerce platform (www.amazon.in) claiming it to be ‘Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad’,” the government release said.“Enabling the sale of food products online that make false representations misleads consumers regarding the genuine characteristics of the product,” the statement said, adding that such practices would influence consumers to make purchase decisions that they might not have taken if the accurate attributes of the product were mentioned.

The matter has come up just before the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple, scheduled to take place on January 22.

This is not the first time Amazon has found itself in trouble with authorities over sale of products on its platform. In 2017, the government had taken action against the ecommerce marketplace for sale of doormats and footwear in the Indian flag’s colours on its Canadian and US portals.

“The allegations against Amazon underscore the need for stringent oversight and regulation of ecommerce platforms to ensure the protection of consumer rights,” the CAIT noted in its complaint letter to Goyal on Friday.