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The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Thursday (July 14) issued an advisory to ecommerce platforms directing them to ensure that the sale of certain Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs is only done against valid prescription.

“The CCPA has issued an advisory to ecommerce entities concerning the sale of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs containing ingredients listed in Schedule E(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945,” the advisory said.

The CCPA further said, “Ecommerce platforms have been advised that the sale or facilitating the sale of such drugs shall be done only after a valid prescription of a registered Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani practitioner respectively is uploaded by the user on the platform.”

The consumer watchdog said that consuming such drugs without medical supervision could lead to severe health complications.

Schedule E(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 refers to the list of ‘poisonous substances’ under the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine and include items such as cannabis sativa, snake poison, arsenic, among others.

“The Central Authority may initiate necessary action under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 if, after investigation, it is found that the said drugs are offered for sale by any ecommerce platform in violation to the legal framework governing sale of such drugs to consume,” noted the advisory. 

Reiterating the rules, the advisory also specified that the container containing the said substances should be labelled with the words “Caution: To be taken under medical supervision” in English as well as Hindi.

The Ministry of AYUSH had issued a similar public notice in 2016 and urged the public to avoid consumption of such drugs without medical supervision.

Of late, the CCPA has cracked the whip on erring players. Earlier this month, the watchdog issued guidelines regarding levy of service charges in hotels and restaurants. Prior to that, it also issued guidelines for prevention of misleading advertisements to protect consumer interests.

Earlier last month, the CCPA also sent notices to ride-hailing apps Uber and Ola over rising complaints of consumer rights violations and unfair trade practices.