ASCI Update: Complaints against 100 out of 152 ads upheld in November 2016

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self-regulatory body that propagates responsible advertising, has released a report of the complaints it received and upheld in the month of November 2016. The ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) received complaints against 152 ads; complaints against 100 ads were upheld.

Of these, 43 ads were from the healthcare category, followed by 17 ads from education category; 11 ads were from the personal care category, seven ads from the food and beverages category and six from the e-commerce category. 16 ads were upheld in the others category.

Complaints against brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment for false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims, and hence, violated the ASCI's code include Able Exports (Feel fresh mouth care), Shathayu Ayurveda, J & J DeChane Laboratories, Shakshii Wellness, Care Institute of Medical Sciences, Goodlife Wellness, Sujatha Bio Tech (Memory Vita Focus Factor), Amplifon India, Mankind Limited (Gas-O-Fast) Pharma, Quantum Naturals (QuantoDiab Forte), Dr. Batra's Homeopathy Family Clinic, Deepak Ayurveda, Sanat Products (Uplat), Lifespan Clinic India (Lifespan Diabetes Clinics), Bansal Hospital, The Slimming Centre, Medipulse Hospital, Shretej Slimming Centre, Kolors Health Care India, S10 Health Sports Medicine Centre, Proyurveda Lifesciences, JeewanJyoti Pharmacy, Nova Pulse IVF Clinic (Nova IVI Fertility) and Richfeel Health & Beauty (Richfeel Trichology Centre Hair and Scalp Clinic-Hair Thinning Treatment-Anagrow).

The other brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment include Velvette International Pharma Products (Memory Plus Tonic), Lifezen Healthcare's (Tuska Calcium Tablets) and (EyeSpaeyedrops), Bhavishi Fertility Institute, Good Life Wellness (Good Life Wellness Products), Raja Baldev Das Birla Hospital, PMC Hospital, Positive Homeopathy, Akanksha Ayurveda & Panchakarma, Perfect Point, Jaipur Physiotherapy, Quantum Naturals (Quanto Max), AarogyamAyurPanch Hospital & Research Centre, Kangra Herb, twice for different ads, SDI Herbo-Chem (Zosh Capsules/Oil), American Homeo Lab, Sri Ayurveda Ganapati and Dr. Dassan's Ayurvedic Herbal (Re Renal).

Education brands pulled up for violating ASCI guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions were Swadesh Classes and Orane Institute of Beauty & Wellness.

Complaints against advertisements of all educational institutes listed below mostly were upheld because of unsubstantiated claims that they 'provide 100 per cent placement/and/or they claim to be the No.1 in their respective fields'.

Army Institute of Management, Institute of professional education and research , Buddha Institute of Technology (BIT), Panipat Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dexter Academy, Xavier University Bhubaneswar, Sarthik Industrial Training Institute, Banaras Institute of Engineering & Technology, Indian fire and Nursing School, Northern Group of Institute- (Northern Institute of Engineering Technical Campus), Arcot Sri Mahalakshmi Women's College, RICS School of Built Environment Amity University, Koustuv Technical Campus Koustuv Institute of Self Domain & College of Engg, DRIEMS Group Of Institutions- DRIEMS School of Hotel Management and Pathfinder Institute of Agriculture.

Anchor Health & Beauty Care (New Anchor health plus), Emami Limited (Keshking), Greek Retail Inocos Herbal Industries (Radyance Skin Brightening Complex) and (Raydance Skin Brightening Serum), Torque Pharmaceuticals (U B Fair), Hindustan Unilever (Lakme Youth Infinity Range of Products), Advanced Beauty & Cosmetic Clinic (Minus Cosmetic), Marico (Parachute Advanced Coconut Hair Oil), Ruturaj Ayurvedic Gruh Udyog (Ruturaj Herbal Shampoo), Aswini Homeo & Ayurvedic Products (Aswini Hair Oil) and Emami (Keshking Ayurvedic Oil and Shampoo) were the brands that were pulled up from the Personal Care category for violating ASCI guidelines.

The food and beverage brands that have come under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines include GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (Horlicks Oats), The Nilgiri Dairy Farm (Nilgiris Golden Bakes Cookies - Almond & Choco-chip), Mystic Aromatics (Areca Tea), Vimal Oil & Foods (Vimal Refined Sunflower Oil), Pankaj Industries (Gulab Sungold Refined Sunflower Oil), Kanodia Oil Mills (Kanodia Rice Bran Oil) and Zero Enthalpy Labs (Zevia Sweetener).

The e-commerce brands that have come under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines include Amazon India (HTC Desire 620G Dual Sim), Trendsutra Platform Services (Pepperfry.com), Cleartrip, Accelyst Solutions (Freecharge), One 97 Communications (Paytm) and Magicbricks.com.

Other brands which were pulled up for objectionable ads due to false and/or misleading claims include Safechem Industries (Sparkle Dishwash Tub), Bombay Barbeque, Greendust (Mee Audio Sport-F1 M3P In-ear Headphones), BlizzBiosculpting, Bridgestone India (Ecopia Tyres), Bajaj Auto (Bajaj Pulsar) twice for different ads, Aditya Birla Management Corporation (Idea Cellular), Lico Group (Licostyle Shoes), Philips Electronics India (Philips Appliances), InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo Airlines), Swajal Water, SeaGreen Distributions (Nano Fixit), J.G. Hosiery (Amul Macho), Emerald Jewel Industry India and Global Consumer Products (DND Aeromax Coil Diffuser).