ASCI Update: Complaints against 62 out of 126 ads upheld in June 2017

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 June 2017. The ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) received complaints against 126 ads; complaints against 62 ads were upheld.

Of these, 23 ads were from the healthcare category, followed by 17 ads from education category; 10 ads were from the food and beverages category, six in personal care category and six 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 Rediscover Clinic (Rediscover Laser, Slimming, Skin and Hair Clinic), SBS Biotech (Unit-II) Ayurvedic Division (Dr. Ortho Capsules & Ointment), Shree Maruti Herbal (Stay On Power Capsules), Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (Pirrhoid), Dindayal Aushadhy (303 Capsules), Chaturbhuj Pharmaceutical Company (Japani Tel), Sheth Brothers (Kayam Tablets), Hamdard Laboratories (India) (Hamdard Safi), Multani Pharmaceuticals (Multani Rhumed SG Tablets), OPTM Health Care and Alchem International (Phytorelief-CC).

Education brands pulled up for violating ASCI guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions were Satyadeva Institute and Vision IAS (Vision IAS Classroom)

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':

Krystal Institute and Appin Technology Lab (ATL Foundation).

The food and beverage brands that have come under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines include PepsiCo India Holding (Pepsi Gatecrash), Narang Group (Ocean Active Water), Coconut Development Board (Coconut Oil), Amazon.com, Inc. (Our Organik Tree - Jaggery powder), N.V.K. Mohamed Rowther Sultan & Sons (Roja Pakku), Pioma Industries (Rasna), Coca-Cola India (Maaza) and Coco Cola India Inc. (Fanta), (Sprite) and (Thumbs Up).

The personal care brands that have come under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines include Lotus Herbals (Lotus Herbals Limited Safe Sun UV Screen Matte Gel), Emami (Emami Kesh King Ayurvedic Oil) and (Kesh King Shampoo) and Hindustan Unilever (Ayurvedic Anti-Dandruff Ayush Shampoo).

Other brands which were pulled up for objectionable ads due to false and/or misleading claims include Voltas (Voltas All Star Inverter A/C, Bharat Petroleum, Techno Plastic Industries (Signoraware), Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (Honda Activa 4G), Visual Eyes Specs World Technologies (Visual Eyes Lens) and Times Network (Times Now).

SUO MOTO ACTION

The advertisements given below were picked up through ASCI's Suo Moto surveillance of print and TV media via National Advertisement Monitoring Services (NAMS) project. Out of 27 advertisements, total of 24 advertisements were considered to be misleading. Of these 24 advertisements against, 13 belonged to the education category, nine belonged to the healthcare category and two were from the personal Care category.

Health care:-

The CCC found the following claims of nine advertisements in health care products or services to be either misleading or false or not adequately / scientifically substantiated and hence violating ASCI's Code. Some of the health care products or services advertisements also contravened provisions of the Drugs & Magic Remedies Act (DMR Act), Drugs and Cosmetics Rules (D&C Rules) and Chapter I.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code. Complaints against the following advertisements were UPHELD.

Total Dental Care (Sabka dentist), Rediscover Clinic, Sunflower Women's Hospital, Thareja Home Nursing, Dr Malik Ayurvedic Research Centre, Kangra Herb (Kangra Herb Health Centre), Dr Batra's Positive Health Clinic, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (Apollo Heart Inst.) and Care and Cure Herbals (Shots Capsules and Gel).

Education:-

The CCC found following claims in the advertisements by 13 different advertisers were not substantiated and, thus, violated ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions. Hence complaints against these advertisements were UPHELD.

Ambition School of Competitive Education, Times Centre Learning (Timespro), International Institution of Technology & Professional Training (IITPT), Mukils Englio, Sure Centre Success, Deeksha Classes and Sri Hari Academy Gate.

Complaints against advertisements of all educational institutes listed below mostly are UPHELD because of unsubstantiated claims that they 'provide 100% placement/AND/OR they claim to be the No.1 in their respective fields':

Ambition School of Competitive education, Mody University of Science and Technology, Vibrant Academy, Mothers Education Hub, SR Leaders Institution and Morning Lotus International Preschool.

Personal care:-

X Men Instant Fairness Face Cream and Tianjin Tianshi India (Airiz Sanitary Napkin)