According to information obtained by News18, the Ministry of Health of India has asked authorities to inform manufacturers of Ayurvedic, homeopathic and other traditional medicines to submit a ‘Self-Declaration Certificate’ (SDC) before advertising them.
The move, aimed at curbing misleading advertisements and protecting consumer interests, was initiated by an order of the Supreme Court of India dated May 7. The apex court directed all advertisers and advertising agencies to submit self-declaration certificates before publishing or airing their advertisements.
From June 18, 2024, all advertisers will have to submit this certificate, signed by an authorized representative, through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (MIB) Broadcast Seva Portal before airing their advertisements on television channels or publishing them in print and digital media.
Following these new rules, on May 31, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting wrote to Ayush Sharma Secretary Rajesh Kotecha seeking his cognizance of the new rules.
The Ayush Ministry represents traditional practices and medicines, and Ayush is an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha & Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy. In the past, the Ayush medicines industry has come under scrutiny for misleading advertisements.
“As your ministry plays a vital role in the public health and allied sectors, we seek your assistance in creating awareness about these new requirements among stakeholders in the sector,” MIB Director General Sanjay Jaju said in a letter to Kotecha.
Following this request, the Ayush Ministry has asked officials of all states and union territories, known as ‘Ayush Drugs Licensing Authorities’, to inform all Ayush-based drug manufacturers “about the new features in MIB’s Broadcast Seva Portal for TV and Radio and Press Council of India’s portal for print, digital and internet media for necessary compliance.”
The new rules require all broadcasters and publishers to strictly adhere to this requirement and not air or publish any advertisement until a valid self-declaration certificate has been submitted by the advertiser. It is the responsibility of broadcasters and publishers to ensure that advertisers submit the required self-declaration certificate before airing their advertisements.
Ayush Ministry to clean up misleading advertising ecosystem
In April, India’s Ministry of Health issued a warning to all manufacturers of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and homeopathic medicines to strictly adhere to labelling and advertising regulations, or risk legal action.
The ministry’s step was taken in the wake of the controversy over Patanjali’s misleading advertisements, which led the Supreme Court to demand a public apology.
