Four major e-commerce platforms– Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and JioMart– have removed listings of the allegedly unregistered “Cyclosinone Herbicide” 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 informed it that listings of the product had been taken down with immediate effect and that seller accounts associated with such listings had been placed under scrutiny.However, the CCPA said the initial responses were only the first step and directed a comprehensive examination of the matter.“The CCPA has placed the matter for detailed investigation,” the regulator said.The notices were issued after the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI), through the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, raised concerns over the online sale and promotion of the herbicide despite it not being listed under the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968.The complaint also alleged that product listings did not disclose key information such as the active ingredient and precise chemical identity, details considered important for informed purchasing decisions, particularly by farmers.Following its review, the CCPA said the listings lacked mandatory disclosures including product chemical composition, valid licence numbers and their validity period, statutory warnings regarding hazardous nature and details relating to Principal Authorisation Certificates wherever required.The authority said such omissions had the potential to mislead consumers.“The authority noted that such omissions had the potential to mislead consumers,” particularly farmers and agricultural users relying on product disclosures for safe usage of agro-chemicals, it said.The regulator also referred to Rule 10(E) of the Insecticides (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022, which governs online sale of insecticides and requires e-commerce platforms to verify seller licences before allowing such products to be listed.According to the CCPA, failure to undertake such checks could amount to violations under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.As part of the notices, the platforms were asked to provide details including the date of initial listing, total number of listings since January 2024, complete details of sellers involved and mechanisms used for ensuring regulatory compliance.“Digital convenience cannot come at the cost of consumer protection, statutory non-compliance, or public safety,” the CCPA said.The authority added that it would continue taking action against misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices and online sale of products that could pose risks to consumers, particularly in sectors linked to agriculture, health and public safety.
