E-Commerce Websites Required To Declare Country Of Origin Of Products Sold By Them: Centre Tells Delhi HC

The Central Government told the Delhi High Court that under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, the e-commerce websites are mandatorily required to declare the country of origin of the products sold on their portals. The information was provided to a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan in a plea seeking a direction to be issued to the e-commerce websites to publish the country of origin along with the products in order to promote selling of goods manufactured in India. The Central Government has further submitted that the enforcement of the said Rules is the responsibility of the respective State Governments. Whenever violations are observed, it is submitted, action is taken by the Legal Metrology officials of the State Governments in accordance with the law. It is also informed by the Centre that the necessary advisory/ direction to all e-commerce entities with copy to Controller of Legal Metrology of all States/UTs has been issued to ensure the compliance of the provisions of the Act & Rules. Therefore, Centre has submitted that the present petition should be dismissed as the government has already addressed the issues raised in the petition through various advisories and directions.