Govt issues draft rules to make e-commerce more accountable; seeks comments by Feb 15
e-commerce platforms, mandating self-regulatory measures to protect consumers from fraudulent practices amid the fast-growing digital shopping landscape in India. The draft guidelines, titled 'E-commerce-Principles and Guidelines for Self Governance', have been prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry's supervision, seeking stakeholder comments by February 15.
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"...the rise of e-commerce has introduced new challenges, particularly in terms of consumer protection and trust. The importance of clear and effective rules and norms for self-governance in e-commerce cannot be further emphasized in this context," the draft stated.
The framework introduces three-phase principles covering pre-transaction, contract formation, and post-transaction stages for e-commerce operations.
Under pre-transaction requirements, platforms must conduct thorough KYC of business partners, especially third-party sellers. The guidelines mandate detailed product listings including title, seller contact details, identification number, and supporting media to help consumers assess product utility and features.
For imported goods, platforms must display importer, packer, and seller details prominently. During contract formation, platforms must record consumer consent, enable
