India’s consumer rights watchdog has initiated an inquiry into major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and JioMart for allegedly selling and promoting an unregistered agrochemical product labeled as “Cyclosinone Herbicide”. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), operating under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has sent notices to these platforms, demanding explanations on their diligence processes and instructing them to remove the product listings promptly. The companies have confirmed the removal of the listings and are investigating the seller accounts associated with the product.
The product in question, Cyclosinone Herbicide, was being advertised online as a weed-control solution for farms, orchards, lawns, and landscaped areas. However, concerns arose regarding its legality and safety, as authorities alleged that it was being sold without the necessary regulatory approvals. The CCPA is conducting a thorough investigation into the matter, requesting details from the e-commerce platforms such as the initial listing date of the product, the duration it was available online, the total number of listings since January 2024, and seller information linked to the product.
Following a complaint received through the Agriculture Ministry from the Crop Care Federation of India, the probe was launched. The federation raised issues about the promotion and sale of Cyclosinone Herbicide online, stating that it was not regulated under the Insecticides Act, 1968. The complaint highlighted that the product listings lacked crucial information like the active ingredient and chemical composition, potentially putting consumers, particularly farmers, at risk by not providing essential safety and usage details.
