New Delhi: Baba Ramdev-owned Patanjali Ayurved has told the Supreme Court that it has instructed its exclusive and franchise stores to remove 14 of its herbal products, who licenses have been suspended, from their shelves.
The company also told the court on Tuesday, July 8, that social media intermediaries and e-commerce platforms had been issued orders to pull out advertisements on these products. Media outlets linked with the company or those especially roped in for the purpose of advertising these products had been asked to stop airing commercials pertaining to the 14 concoctions in any form, the company told the court.
The products which have now been taken off shelf are namely: Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, BP Grit, Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit, Eyegrit Gold, and Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop. Patanjali has stopped sale of these formulations in more than 5,000 across the country as well on e-commerce platforms.
A division of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Sandeep Mehta also ordered Patanjali to file an affidavit in two weeks, confirming whether or not the social media intermediaries have actually withdrawn the advertisements.
On May 7, the Supreme Court had issued an order, instructing advertisers to submit self-declarations noting that they are not misrepresenting or making false claims about products, especially in the health and food sectors, before promoting them in the electronic, print, or online media.
The court on Tuesday clarified that the May 7 order was not meant to harass the advertising industry. “The intention was not to cause any harassment to anybody. It was only to focus on particular sectors and aspects,” Justice Kohli explained, according to The Hindu.
The Bench directed the Union information and broadcasting ministry to carry out a brainstorming session with industry stakeholders along with the consumer affairs ministry and the health ministry against the backdrop of the May 7 order to come up with a regulatory mechanism to address the issue of misleading advertisements and to fix accountability.
“Industry should not suffer in any manner… The government has to continue to churn out ideas to address the issue,” Justice Kohli said. The court directed the Union government to file an affidavit furnishing the details of the meeting and conclusions made in three weeks.
