ASCI upholds complaints against 62 out of 126 ads

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) on Friday announced it upheld complaints against 62 out of 126 advertisements in June.

Out of these 62, 23 belonged to the healthcare category, 17 to the education category, followed by 10 in the food and beverages category, six in the personal care category, and six advertisements from other categories, said the ASCI in a release.

The ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) processed complaints against the advertisements from general public, industry as well as from the Department of Consumer Affairs' Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA) portal.

In healthcare, it found that some of the products or services advertisements also contravened provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act (DMR Act), Drugs and Cosmetics Rules (D&C Rules) besides the ASCI Code as it upheld complaints against Rediscover Clinic Pvt. Ltd, (Laser, slimming, skin and hair clinic) and SBS Biotech Ayurvedic Division (Dr. Ortho capsules and ointment).

In food and beverages, it upheld complaints against PepsiCo India Holding Pvt Ltd (Pepsi Gatecrash) and Narang Group (Ocean Active water).

In personal care, it found claims by Lotus Herbals Ltd (Lotus Herbals safe sun UV screen matte gel) and Emami Limited (Emami Kesh King ayurvedic oil) to be not corroborated by evidence.

In education, the CCC found that claims in the advertisements by four different advertisers were not substantiated and, thus, violated ASCI guidelines. It upheld complaints against Satyadeva Institute and Vision IAS classroom.

The body also found that Voltas Ltd (Voltas all star inverter air conditioner) violated the ASCI guidelines for disclaimers.

It also found that the Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd advertisement's claim 'Go green with Speed for it reduces emissions', was unsubstantiated therefore termed it "misleading by exaggeration and omission".

The ASCI also found out misleading advertisement through suo motu surveillance of print and TV media via National Advertisement Monitoring Services project.

A total of 24 advertisements were considered to be misleading. Of these 24 advertisements, 13 belonged to the education category, nine belonged to the healthcare category and two were from the personal care category.

It included Total Dental Care Pvt. Ltd. (Sabka dentist), Rediscover Clinic, Ambition School of Competitive Education, X Men Instant Fairness Face Cream and Tianjin Tianshi India Pvt. Ltd. (Airiz sanitary napkin).

Established in 1985, the ASCI is a self-regulatory body for the advertising industry to promote, maintain, monitor and uphold "fair, sound, ethical and healthy principles and practices of advertising".

--IANS

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