The shops of a number of manufacturers, together with Hamleys, Archies, and WH Smith, have been raided throughout a (BIS) enforcement drive in opposition to promoting merchandise allegedly with out certification.
In complete, 249 toys have been seized from Reliance-owned shops. Round 118 toys have been confiscated from shops and 65 from ones of WH Smith.
Prior to now month, the BIS carried out 44 raids in numerous areas and seized 18,629 toys. Raids have been carried out in Ambala, Dehradun, Surat, Vadodara, Madurai, Jammu & Kashmir, and West Bengal.
“Within the first part, we’re concentrating on solely large retailers both at airports or main malls. Round 18,600 toys have been seized from these 44 raids,” mentioned Pramod Kumar Tiwari, director common, BIS, throughout a press convention. “Our concept is to create consciousness amongst sellers and the shoppers that promoting uncertified merchandise won’t be allowed,” he added.
In keeping with BIS officers, the merchants violated Part 16 and 17 of the Toys (High quality Management) Order, 2016. Final yr in January, the BIS had mandated certification marks to forestall the sale of low-quality merchandise and requested to print the marks on the products to be imported, offered, saved, or exhibited on the market.
On non-compliance with high quality requirements, a penalty will probably be imposed on producers. Nonetheless, retailers and wholesalers too will probably be held accountable.
Furthermore, the Central Shopper Safety Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to e-commerce entities Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal for promoting toys in alleged violation of requirements laid down by the .
“We now have despatched notices to Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal and have requested for his or her responses inside seven days for promoting toys with out BIS certification,” Nidhi Khare, further secretary, ministry of shopper affairs, informed reporters.
In an emailed response to Enterprise Normal, Flipkart mentioned, “Flipkart is a market dedicated to democratising e-commerce for all in India and enabling lakhs of small companies to attach with prospects by expertise. As a part of our customer-first philosophy, sustaining the standard of merchandise that sellers supply on our market has at all times been the highest focus space. We stay dedicated to making sure the best high quality of merchandise offered on the platform. We now have obtained notification from CCPA and can reply appropriately.”
Queries to Amazon, Snapdeal, and remained unanswered until the time of going to press. On Thursday, the CCPA held a gathering with together with Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal.
One other official mentioned: “The entities have raised the purpose that there isn’t any mechanism to confirm the authenticity of licences supplied by the sellers.” Inside 15 days, an API (utility programming interface) system will probably be activated by which e-commerce platforms can confirm BIS licences of their sellers. API will probably be developed by the requirements authority together with the technical groups of e-commerce firms.
“The second sellers make their declaration of BIS licences on these platforms, API will enable these platforms to examine mechanically and, if discovered invalid, sellers will probably be stopped from promoting their merchandise,” mentioned Tiwari.
Furthermore, in a joint operation, the BIS will formulate joint teams together with the customs division for verifying BIS certification on international consignments coming to India. The CCPA has expanded a country-wide marketing campaign to forestall gross sales of spurious and counterfeit items that violate High quality Management Orders (QCOs) revealed by the Centre to incorporate shopper durables akin to electrical immersion water heaters, electrical irons, home gasoline stoves, microwave ovens, and stitching machines.
On this regard, the CCPA has written to district collectors throughout India to research unfair commerce practices and violations of shopper rights regarding the manufacture or sale of such items and submit an motion taken report back to the authority.
Queries despatched to firms together with Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, and remained unanswered until the time of going to press.