'Citizen Has Right To Know Place Of Manufacture' : Plea In Gujarat HC To Reveal Country Of Origin Of Products Sold Via E-Commerce

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday issued notices on a PIL seeking enforcement of the consumer's right to be informed about the place of manufacturing of all products sold through web portals/ e-commerce platforms. It states, "It has been observed that the web portals and/or Mobile applications of the E-commerce platforms do not state the "Place of Manufacturing and the country where the company manufacturing the product is based "conspicuously" which makes it difficult and/or impossible for the prospective consumer of the product to know about the country/place of manufacturing of the product which he/she intends to purchase. It also becomes difficult and/or impossible to know if the company manufacturing the product is based in India or in a foreign country or if the majority shareholding of the company selling the product on the E-Commerce platform is of a parent company outside India." The Petitioner has therefore sought a direction upon the Respondents to enact a law by imposing strict restrictions/ regulations and to take immediate steps to ensure that all web portals/ E-Commerce platforms invariably mention the following along with other product details: Whether the product is manufactured by Indian company in India; Whether the product is manufactured by Indian company in foreign land; Whether the product is manufactured by foreign company in India; Whether the product is manufactured by foreign company in foreign land; Percentage of stake holder of Indian and foreign companies in products that are manufactured by MNCs.