Latest news with #DrugsandMagicRemediesAct
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Drugs control administration seizes illegal drug stocks worth 3.5L in city
1 2 Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration (DCA) in Telangana seized stocks worth 3 lakh after busting an unauthorised manufacturing operation of certain drugs at a pharmaceuticals company in Gajularamaram, Medchal-Malkajgiri. According to the officials, a total of 537 kg of albendazole tablets and 986 kg of albendazole granules, both intended for veterinary purposes, were manufactured illegally without a drug licence at the manufacturing facility of Siflon Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. In another case at Moosarambagh, officials seized formulations illegally marketed under the name of a pharma company operating without a drug licence, with stocks worth 52,737 confiscated. During the raid, the DCA officers detected formulations illegally marketed under the name of Biovus Pharma. The company's management failed to produce the requisite manufacturer-marketer agreement with the manufacturer of the drug and also failed to furnish a valid drug licence at the marketer's address indicated on the label. In the third case, officials found an Ayurvedic medicine with the label name 'Heamaadri Artho Care Pain Oil' circulating in the market with misleading claims of treating rheumatoid arthritis, which is a contravention of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. All the stocks of the drug were seized by the officials.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Offshore betting and real estate top ad violations in ASCI's 2024-25 report
Offshore betting and real estate emerged as the most non-compliant sectors in advertising during 2024-25, according to the Advertising Standards Council of India 's (ASCI) Annual Complaints Report. The self-regulatory body reviewed 9,599 complaints and examined 7,199 advertisements over the course of the year. Offshore betting accounted for 43.5% of all the violative ads last fiscal, followed by real estate at 24.9%. Together, these sectors made up more than two-thirds (68%) of total violations, the report said. They were joined by personal care (5.7%), healthcare (5.23%), and food and beverages (4.69%) as the top five violating sectors. ASCI monitors advertising violations across brands, platforms, and influencers, working closely with the Department of Consumer Affairs to promote truthful and lawful advertising. "This year has been one of meaningful collaboration," said Manisha Kapoor, CEO and secretary general of ASCI. "We expanded our efforts to address key areas such as offshore betting and real estate, which involve high-impact violations." Betting is illegal in India, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed all publishers to avoid carrying advertisements from offshore betting platforms. Industry-wide compliance with ASCI guidelines stood at 83%, with television and print media showing a higher adherence rate of 98%. Digital media accounted for 94.4% of the ads flagged for violations, while traditional media contributed a relatively small share. Influencer-related violations made up 14% of the total ads reviewed. The report noted that 79% of digital ad violations occurred on Meta platforms, followed by other websites, Google, property portals, and LinkedIn. ASCI reported a significant improvement in complaint resolution efficiency during 2024-25, with the average turnaround time reduced to 16 days-a 46% improvement over the previous year. This was largely driven by the higher proportion of uncontested claims and enhanced processing systems. Of the scrutinised ads, 98% required some form of modification. Notably, 59% of the investigated ads were uncontested and were either withdrawn or modified by advertisers. Most violations stemmed from misleading claims due to lack of honest representation and promotion of harmful products or depictions of dangerous situations, the report said. A total of 3,347 ads fell under categories that are legally prohibited from advertising, including offshore betting, alcohol branding, and unauthorised forex trading apps, which are banned by the Reserve Bank of India. Additionally, 233 ads potentially violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. ASCI reviewed 1,015 influencer ads during the year, with 98% requiring modifications. On LinkedIn alone, 121 violations were identified, largely due to professionals failing to disclose paid partnerships.
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Ads for banned products up 24% in FY25; offshore betting dominates: ASCI
The number of advertisements (ads) for products or services prohibited by law has increased by 23.6 per cent to 3,347 in 2024-25, and a large chunk of the ads was from offshore, illegal betting platforms, according to the Annual Complaints Report released by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Ads for products or services prohibited by law stood at 2,707 in the 2023-24 period. Out of these 3,347 ads, 3,081 were from offshore, illegal betting platforms. These 3,081 ads included 318 that pertained to influencers promoting such platforms. On the other hand, 233 ads potentially violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act; 21 promoted alcohol brands; and 12 ads promoted unauthorised forex trading apps banned by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). ASCI has been escalating these ads that are prohibited by law to regulators for appropriate action, it said in its report. With this, offshore betting and realty sectors emerge as the most violative ones as ads in these segments flagged by consumers rose to 83 per cent in the 2024-25 period. Overall, ASCI looked into 9,599 complaints and scrutinised 7,199 as. In this, 98 per cent of scrutinised ads required some form of modification. The offshore betting segment contributed 43 per cent of cases while the realty sector accounted for 24.9 per cent of cases, ASCI said in a release. 'This year has been one of meaningful collaborations as we expanded our efforts to address critical areas like offshore betting or gambling and real estate violations, which are high-impact violations,' said Manisha Kapoor, chief executive officer (CEO) and secretary general of ASCI, in a statement. The realty sector was followed by ads in the personal-care segment, contributing 5.7 per cent of cases, healthcare at 5.23 per cent, and food and beverage segment accounting for 4.69 per cent of the cases. Additionally, influencer violations contributed to 14 per cent of the ads processed, the report added. 'The rise in public complaints — and more importantly, how many advertisers chose to quietly comply — says a lot about where trust still lives,' said Partha Sinha, chairman, ASCI. Out of the 1,015 influencer ads investigated by ASCI, the ones in the illegal betting segment were highest at 31.4 per cent, followed by fashion and lifestyle at 16.2 per cent. 'ASCI's continued efforts have resulted in 83 per cent overall compliance, with TV and print showing near-perfect adherence (of ads) at 98 per cent,' the release said.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Offshore betting and realty emerge as the most violative sectors: ASCI
HighlightsThe Advertising Standards Council of India reported an 83 per cent increase in consumer complaints, with offshore betting and real estate being the sectors with the highest number of advertising violations. A staggering 98 per cent of the advertisements examined by the Advertising Standards Council of India required modifications, with 3,081 ads promoting illegal offshore betting platforms identified as the most significant violations. Influencer marketing was notably scrutinised, with 98 per cent of the 1,015 influencer advertisements investigated requiring changes, highlighting the need for transparency in paid partnerships, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. The Advertising Standards Council of India ( ASCI ) has released its annual complaints report for 2024-2025, highlighting offshore betting and real estate as the sectors with the most advertising violations. The report indicates a significant rise in consumer complaints, with an 83 per cent increase in ads flagged by the public. ASCI reviewed 9,599 complaints and scrutinized 7,199 advertisements over the past year. The findings show that 98 per cent of the ads examined required some form of modification. Offshore betting platforms accounted for 43 per cent of all cases, making it the most violative sector, followed by real estate at 24.9 per cent. Other sectors with notable violations included personal care (5.7 per cent), healthcare (5.23 per cent) and food and beverage (4.69 per cent). A significant portion of the violations, 3,347 ads, fell into categories legally prohibited from advertising. This included 3,081 ads for offshore illegal betting platforms, with 318 of these involving influencer promotions. Additionally, 233 ads potentially violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 21 promoted alcohol brands, and 12 were for unauthorised forex trading apps banned by the RBI. Influencer marketing also came under scrutiny, with ASCI investigating 1,015 influencer ads, 98 per cent of which required modification. A specific concern was noted on LinkedIn, where 121 violations involved professionals failing to disclose paid partnerships, prompting ASCI to issue an advisory for transparency on the platform. The majority of ads processed, 89 per cent, were identified through ASCI's proactive monitoring, with the remaining 11 per cent originating from public complaints. The 659 ads flagged by the general public represent an 83.5 per cent increase from the previous year, suggesting growing consumer awareness and engagement with ASCI's redressal mechanisms. Digital platforms remained the primary source of violations, accounting for 94.4 per cent of processed ads, followed by television (2.6 per cent) and print (2.4 per cent). ASCI reports an 83 per cent overall compliance rate, with TV and print advertising showing close to perfect adherence at 98 per cent. The council also noted a 46 per cent reduction in its average complaint turnaround time, bringing it down to 16 days. This improvement is attributed to increased efficiency and a higher number of advertisers, 59 per cent, who promptly modified or withdrew their ads upon being contacted by ASCI. Manisha Kapoor, chief executive officer and secretary general, ASCI, noted the focus on "high-impact violations" such as offshore betting and real estate. Partha Sinha, chairman, ASCI, said, 'In a world where ads chase clicks and claims fly faster than facts, someone has to stay sober. That's where ASCI comes in. The rise in public complaints—and more importantly, how many advertisers chose to quietly comply—says a lot about where trust still lives. We're not here to police creativity. We're here to make sure the consumer isn't the punchline. In the chaos of the digital bazaar, our job is to keep one stall honest.'
