Ecommerce Players Can’t Sell Specified Ayurvedic, Unani Drugs Without Prescription: CCPA

Ecommerce Players Can’t Sell Specified Ayurvedic, Unani Drugs Without Prescription: CCPA

SUMMARY

The sale or facilitating the sale of such specified drugs shall be done only after a valid prescription of a registered practitioner is uploaded on the platform: CCPA

The CCPA said that necessary action under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 can be taken if the legal framework is violated

The consumer watchdog said that consuming such drugs without medical supervision could lead to severe health complications

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Thursday (July 14) issued an advisory to ecommerce platforms directing them to ensure that the sale of certain Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs is only done against valid prescription.

“The CCPA has issued an advisory to ecommerce entities concerning the sale of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs containing ingredients listed in Schedule E(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945,” the advisory said.

The CCPA further said, “Ecommerce 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.”

The consumer watchdog said that consuming such drugs without medical supervision could lead to severe health complications.

Schedule E(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 refers to the list of ‘poisonous substances’ under the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine and include items such as cannabis sativa, snake poison, arsenic, among others.

“The Central Authority may initiate necessary action under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 if, after investigation, it is found that the said drugs are offered for sale by any ecommerce platform in violation to the legal framework governing sale of such drugs to consume,” noted the advisory. 

Reiterating the rules, the advisory also specified that the container containing the said substances should be labelled with the words “Caution: To be taken under medical supervision” in English as well as Hindi.

The Ministry of AYUSH had issued a similar public notice in 2016 and urged the public to avoid consumption of such drugs without medical supervision.

Of late, the CCPA has cracked the whip on erring players. Earlier this month, the watchdog issued guidelines regarding levy of service charges in hotels and restaurants. Prior to that, it also issued guidelines for prevention of misleading advertisements to protect consumer interests.

Earlier last month, the CCPA also sent notices to ride-hailing apps Uber and Ola over rising complaints of consumer rights violations and unfair trade practices.

Note: We at Inc42 take our ethics very seriously. More information about it can be found here.

You have reached your limit of free stories
Become An Inc42 Plus Member

Become a Startup Insider in 2024 with Inc42 Plus. Join our exclusive community of 10,000+ founders, investors & operators and stay ahead in India’s startup & business economy.

2 YEAR PLAN
₹19999
₹7999
₹333/Month
Unlock 60% OFF
Cancel Anytime
1 YEAR PLAN
₹9999
₹4999
₹416/Month
Unlock 50% OFF
Cancel Anytime
Already A Member?
Discover Startups & Business Models

Unleash your potential by exploring unlimited articles, trackers, and playbooks. Identify the hottest startup deals, supercharge your innovation projects, and stay updated with expert curation.

Ecommerce Players Can’t Sell Specified Ayurvedic, Unani Drugs Without Prescription: CCPA-Inc42 Media
How-To’s on Starting & Scaling Up

Empower yourself with comprehensive playbooks, expert analysis, and invaluable insights. Learn to validate ideas, acquire customers, secure funding, and navigate the journey to startup success.

Ecommerce Players Can’t Sell Specified Ayurvedic, Unani Drugs Without Prescription: CCPA-Inc42 Media
Identify Trends & New Markets

Access 75+ in-depth reports on frontier industries. Gain exclusive market intelligence, understand market landscapes, and decode emerging trends to make informed decisions.

Ecommerce Players Can’t Sell Specified Ayurvedic, Unani Drugs Without Prescription: CCPA-Inc42 Media
Track & Decode the Investment Landscape

Stay ahead with startup and funding trackers. Analyse investment strategies, profile successful investors, and keep track of upcoming funds, accelerators, and more.

Ecommerce Players Can’t Sell Specified Ayurvedic, Unani Drugs Without Prescription: CCPA-Inc42 Media
Ecommerce Players Can’t Sell Specified Ayurvedic, Unani Drugs Without Prescription: CCPA-Inc42 Media
You’re in Good company