Ecommerce sites have to display country of origin for imported goods

E-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal have to ensure that the country of origin is displayed on imported products sold on their platforms, the Centre told the Delhi high court on Wednesday. 

The submission was made in an affidavit placed before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan by the central government which said that according to the Legal Metrology Act and Rules e-commerce sites have to ensure the country of origin is displayed on the "digital and electronic network used for e-commerce transactions". 

The affidavit, filed through central government standing counsel Ajay Digpaul, also stated that enforcement of the rules was the responsibility of the states and Union territories. 

Digpaul said that whenever any violation is observed, action is taken by the legal metrology officials of the concerned state or union territory in accordance with law. 

"The necessary advisory/ direction to all e-commerce entities with a copy to the controller of legal metrology of all states/UTs have been issued to ensure the compliance of the provisions of the act and rules," the affidavit has said. 

The affidavit has been filed in response to a PIL seeking directions to the Centre to ensure that the name of the manufacturing country is displayed on products being sold on e-commerce sites. 

The plea by a lawyer, Amit Shukla, has sought implementation of the Legal Metrology Act 2009 and the rules framed under it which mandate that country of origin has to be displayed on products being sold on e-commerce websites. 

The petition has claimed that the mandate was not being enforced with respect to e-commerce entities. 

It has contended that enforcement of the mandate was important in the current scenario when citizens intend to comply with the central government's appeal to promote and purchase Indian goods and not from some neighbouring countries. 

Therefore, it was essential that the country of origin is displayed on products being sold on e-commerce platforms, the petition said.

Photograph: Reuters.