Question: Ministry of AYUSH has signed MoU with which of the following agency for monitoring misleading advertisements?
(a)Directorate of Air intelligence
(b)Signals Intelligence Directorate
(c)Advertising Standard Directorate of India
(d)Advertising Standard Council of India
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- On 7 August 2018 in Rajya Sabha Yesso malik,Minister of State(Independent Charge) for AYUSH told that ASCI(Advertising Standard Council of India) has reported 732 complaints of misleading Advertisement regarding herbal medicines from 20th January 2018 to 19th January 2018.After consuming herbal medicine products 1 individual each in Tamilnadu and Kerala died.
- It is worth to note that ASCI is the agency with which Ministry of AYUSH has signed a MoU for monitoring of AYUSH advertisements.
- GAMA (Grievances against Misleading Advertisement) portal maintained by Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) also registers such type of advertisement complaints.
- About 809 complaints of advertisement has been received by GAMA during the period from April 2015-March 2018.A major part (573 instances) has been done by six States/UT including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujrat, Kerala, Karnatka and Chandigarh.
Provisions for Redressal of Misleading Advertisement:
- Although “herbal medicines” and “clinical trials” are not prescribed in the provision of Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940 however, the provision of Rule 158B of the same act provides for pilot studies for generating proof of safety and effectiveness in order to grant license for manufacturing Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs.
- About 621 Gazzeted Officers are appointed in 22 states provided with power to enter, search any premises or examine or seize any record in case of misleading the Act.
- Complaints are forwarded to the concerned States Licensing Authorities for action in according with the provisions of Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940.In this regard, out of 809 complaints reflected, 274 have been solved and 585 complaints have been forwarded to concerned states.
- On the request of Ministry of AYUSH an advisory to all media channels have been issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. It is directed to advertise only those AYUSH products which have valid manufacturing license and to ensure strict compliance of the provisions of Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940 and Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954.
References-
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=181628