Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 17: India’s consumer protection regulator has initiated an investigation against major e-commerce platforms over the alleged online sale and promotion of an unregistered agrochemical product marketed as “Cyclosinone Herbicide.”
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), operating under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has issued notices to leading online marketplaces including Amazon India, Flipkart, Meesho and JioMart, seeking explanations regarding their due diligence practices and directing them to immediately remove the product listings.
According to an official statement, the companies informed the authority that the listings had already been taken down and that seller accounts connected to the product were being reviewed for possible action.
Authorities said the matter remains under detailed investigation.
The product, sold online as “Cyclosinone Herbicide,” was allegedly promoted as a weed-control chemical designed to suppress or eliminate weeds, grasses, and broadleaf plants in farms, orchards, lawns, and landscaped spaces. However, regulators raised concerns about the product’s legality and safety, alleging that it was being sold without mandatory regulatory approval.
The CCPA has sought detailed information from the e-commerce firms, including when the product was first listed, how long it remained available online, the total number of related listings since January 2024, and details of the sellers associated with the product.
The authority has also requested information on the compliance and monitoring systems adopted by these platforms to ensure that hazardous or regulated substances sold online comply with Indian laws.
The investigation was initiated following a complaint forwarded by the Agriculture Ministry based on representations made by the Crop Care Federation of India. The federation alleged that Cyclosinone Herbicide was being marketed online despite not being registered under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Under Section 18 of the Act, the sale, storage, distribution, transport, or use of any pesticide that has not been officially registered is prohibited.
The complaint further stated that product listings and promotional content failed to disclose important information such as the active ingredients and precise chemical composition, potentially putting consumers — particularly farmers — at risk by withholding critical safety and usage details.