The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CA) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh on e-commerce major Amazon for selling pressure cookers that did not meet quality standards.
The CA also directed Amazon to notify the consumers of all these 2,265 pressure cookers sold through its platform, recall the products and reimburse the prices to buyers, the Department of Consumer Affairs said in a statement.
The authority, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, recently ed an order against Amazon for allowing sale of domestic pressure cookers, in violation of mandatory standards, on its e-commerce platform.
The CA had initiated suo-moto action against e-commerce platforms for sale of domestic pressure cookers in violation of compulsory standards.
The authority had issued notices to major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Snapdeal as well as the sellers ed on these platforms.
"After examination of the response submitted by the company, it was observed that total 2,265 pressure cookers not conforming to mandatory standards were sold through Amazon after notification of the QCO (Quality Control Order). The total fee earned by the Amazon on sale of such pressure cookers through its platform was Rs.6,14,825.41," the order said.
Amazon itted that it earned 'sales commission' fee for the pressure cookers sold on its platform.
The CA observed that when Amazon earns commercially from each sale of the product listed on its e-commerce platform, it can not disassociate itself in case of issues arising from the sale of these items.
In the order, CA has asked Amazon to notify all consumers of the 2,265 pressure cookers, recall the products and reimburse the amount to the buyers.
Amazon has been asked to submit a compliance report within 45 days.
"The company was also directed to pay a penalty of Rs 1,00,000 for allowing sale of pressure cookers in violation to the QCO on its platform and violating rights of consumers." The CA had ed a similar order of penalty and recall of defective pressure cookers against Paytm Mall, which has complied with the directions and deposited the penalty of Rs 1 lakh.
The authority is continuously monitoring the consumer protection landscape in the country.
Recently, the CA issued an advisory to all e-commerce platforms with regard to sale of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs.
It also recently issued Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading ments and Endorsements for Misleading ments.
The guidelines include conditions for valid and non-misleading ments, due diligence required for endorsement of ments and considerations for ments targeted at children.
The CA has also issued Safety Notices under Section 18(2)(j) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to alert and caution consumers against buying goods which do not hold valid ISI mark and violate compulsory BIS standards.
While the first safety notice was issued with regard to helmets, pressure cookers and cooking gas cylinders, the second notice was issued with regard to household goods including electric immersion water heaters, sewing machines, microwave ovens, domestic gas stoves with LPG, among others.