The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Friday said that complaints against as many as 33 advertisements of Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved have been received during April 2015-July 2016. These complaints were made against the company’s advertisements appearing on TV, print as well as product packaging communications.
Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said, “The Department of Consumer Affairs has informed that 17 advertisements out of 21 advertisements complained against were considered to be in violation of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) Code for Self Regulation of advertising content as per the findings of Consumers Complaints Council (CCC) of ASCI.”
The Ministry also said that six product packaging communications (out of eight complained against) and complaints against two TV ads (out of four) were also considered in violation of the ASCI code.
“Further, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has informed that they have noted the complaints regarding misleading claims made by various Food Business Operators, including Patanjali Ayurved,” the reply stated.
The Department of Consumer Affairs had earlier launched a portal to look into the grievances against misleading ads by consumers and ASCI has been assigned to process these complaints. In cases, where advertisers do not comply with ASCI directions, such complaints are then referred to the concerned Ministry or regulator to take appropriate actions.