CCPA fines Snapdeal ₹5 lakh for selling non-BIS certified toys
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on Snapdeal (Ace Vector Ltd) for facilitating the sale of toys that did not conform to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms, holding that marketplace platforms cannot evade accountability by claiming intermediary status when consumer safety is at stake. The order, reviewed by Mint, said the national consumer rights watchdog found non-compliant toys continued to be listed, hosted, and sold on the platform even after the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020, came into force on 1 January 2021.
The QCO, notified under the BIS Act, makes BIS certification mandatory for toys meant for children under 14 years of age. The proceedings began after the authority took suo motu cognisance of listings of toys that allegedly lacked mandatory BIS certification. During the inquiry, it emerged that two sellers—Stallion Trading Company and Thriftkart—had sold 305 units of the impugned products in 2022 and 2023, generating revenue of ₹1.46 lakh, while the platform earned ₹41,032 in fees from these sales.
An executive of a leading toy manufacturing company said stricter enforcement of BIS standards will help ensure a level playing field for compliant manufacturers and protect consumers from substandard products. “Online marketplaces cannot escape responsibility by calling themselves intermediaries. When regulated products such as toys are sold without mandatory BIS compliance, it directly compromises child safety," said Ashim Sanyal, chief executive of the Consumer VOICE.
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