Guwahati: The Legal Metrology Division of the Department of Consumer Affairs has issued a total of 448 notices to e-commerce companies for violations of declaration in the last year and nine months.

The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on July 20 informed that the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 provides that an e-Commerce entity should ensure that name and address of the manufacturer or packer or importer, maximum retail price (MRP), country of origin, common or generic name of the commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, customer care details, etc shall be displayed on the digital and electronic network used for e-commerce transactions.

"This is to ensure that the consumer is taking an informed and conscious decision based on the declaration of the product on the E-Commerce platform," he stated.

However, for violation of the declaration as per norms, 38 notices were served to e-commerce companies between October 16, 2020, to December 31, 2020; 232 notices in 2021; and 178 till July 11, 2022.

Approximately, Rs. 77, 90,500 has been charged as a penalty.

The Union minister informed that state governments are also empowered to take action in cases of violation of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities), Rules 2011.