ASCI Update: Complaints against 116 out of 165 ads upheld in July 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 July 2017.

The ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) received complaints against 165 ads; complaints against 116 ads were upheld. Of these, 51 ads were from the healthcare category, with 31 ads from the education category, 10 from the personal care category, five in food and beverages and 19 were upheld in the others category.

ASCI processed complaints against the following advertisements from the general public, the industry as well as from the Department of Consumer Affairs' Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA) portal. Out of 73 advertisements, complaints against 32 were upheld.

Complaints against brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment for false, misleading and unsubstantiated claims, and hence, a violation of the ASCI's code, include Vadnere Chemical Works (Dr Vadnere Teething Syrup), Shree Maruti Herbal (Stay On Power Capsules), Trophic Wellness (Nutricharge Glycem Prodiet) and Lotus Slimming Centre (Figure first).

Education brands pulled up for violating ASCI guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions were Cl Educate (Career Launcher), RACE Institute for Bank & SSC Coaching, Success Ahead Services Education, National School of Business, and Krishna International School.

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

Aikon Academy, G.L. Bajaj Institute of Management and Research, Galgotias University and IBT Institute.

Tata Chemicals (Tata Nx Zero Sugar) was the only food and beverage brand that came under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines

The personal care brands that have come under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines include SBS Biotech Unit II (Roop Mantra Ayurvedic Cream, Capsules & Herbal Face Wash), Colgate-Palmolive (India) (Colgate Active Salt), The Himalaya Drug Company (Himalaya Anti Hair Fall shampoo), Lotus Herbals (Lotus Herbals Safe Sun UV Screen Matte Gel) and Asian Consumer Care (Varso Aloe vera).

Other brands which were pulled up for objectionable ads due to false and/or misleading claims include ARG Outlier Media (Republic TV), Republic TV, Wonder Cement, Salarpuria Group (Salarpuria Sattva), Dainik Bhaskar Group (Divya Bhaskar newspaper), Eureka Forbes (Dr. Aquaguard), Kent RO System (Kent RO Water Purifier), I.T.C (Classmate Note Books), Haptik India, Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel (Airtel - The Smartphone Network), Amazon Inc. (Lenovo Zuk Z1) and Godrej Consumer Products (Godrej Acs).

SUO MOTO ACTION

The advertisements given below were picked up through ASCI's Suo Moto surveillance of print and TV media via the National Advertisement Monitoring Services (NAMS) project. Out of 92 advertisements, a total of 84 advertisements were considered to be misleading. Of these, 47 belonged to the healthcare category, 22 to the education category, five in personal care, four in food and beverage and six were from other categories.

Healthcare:-

The CCC found the following claims of nine advertisements in healthcare products or services to be either misleading or false or not adequately/ scientifically substantiated and hence violating ASCI's Code. Some of the healthcare 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:-

Kolors Healthcare India, (Kolors Slimming and Beauty), Jolly Healthcare (Jolly Tulsi 51 Drops), Nisargalaya Herbals (Phyto X-tra Power), Chaturbhuj Pharmaceutical Company (Japani Tel), Shree Kalyan Ayurvedashram, Khodiyar Ayurvedic, Hashmi Dawakhana, Dr. Jonwals Niramay Ayush Panchkarm Health Institute and Research Hospital, My Vitaa Healthcare (Top masti Plus), Wonder Herbals (Wonder Slim), Gautam Clinic, Sudarshan TV, Dr P K Jain Clinic (Dr. P. K. Jain Clinics), Positive Homeopathy, Positive Homeopathy, Shahi Pharmaceuticals (Shahi Unani Tila) and (Shahi Gold Capsule), Meeta Ayurveda, Lord Dhanwantri Ayurvedic Hospital, Dr Madhu Varanasi Super Speciality Homeopathy Clinic, Rajnish Hot Deals (Playwin Capsule and Oil) and (Playwin Plus Capsule), Noor Davakhana, Sun Laboratories (Titanic K2 Plus Capsule), Homeocare International, Aena Healo Ayurveda Proctology Clinic, Nila Pharmaceuticals (Arsamukthi), Shree Maruti Herbal (StayOn Power Oil), Ratan Ayurvedic Sansthan (Sudol Body Toner Capsule), Medipulse Hospital, Body Line Inspiring Fitness, and Universal Srushti Test Tube Baby Centre.

The other brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment include, Regency Healthcare (Renal Sciences Centre), Dr. Prabha's Glow Aesthetic Clinic, Emami (Zandu Gel), Dr. Richa's Unique Clinic, Olivet Pharma (Ayusya Super speciality Treatment Centre), Arogyam Ayurvedic Hospital, RJR Hospitals, Naturoveda Health World, Jolly Healthcare (Jolly Fat Go Slimming Capsules), Elation Hair and Skin Clinic, Rootz Hair Studio, Angels Advanced Clinic, Bengal Speech and Hearing and Dr. Kudos Laboratories India (IME-9 Tablets).

Education:-

The CCC found the following claims in the advertisements by 22 different advertisers were not substantiated and thus, violated ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions. Hence complaints against these advertisements were upheld:-

Graphic Era University, Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology, Birsa Institute Of Tech (Trust) - BITT Group Of Institute, Om Harihar Services P Innovation Edu, Hindustan Soft Education (Oxford Software Institute) and Tamil Nadu Aim Technical Training Centre.

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

St. Joseph Polytechnic College, Arcot Sri Mahalakshmi Women's College, Jai Bharath Educational Foundation (Jai Bharath College of Management and Engineering Technology), ASET College of fire and safety Engineering, Appin Lab Technology, Prince Education Hub (Prince Defence Academy), Kongu Vellalar Institute of Technology Trust (Kongu Polytechnic College), National School Of Hotel Management, Amrita University (Mata Amritanandamayi Math), Goyal Educational & Welfare Society (Rawal Institute), Anandaloke Hospital & Neurosciences Centre (Anandaloke Sch Of Nursing), San Institutions, Sri Ramakrishna Polytechnic College, Srinivasa Educational Society - Pace Institute Of Technology & Sciences, Jainee Group of Institutions Campus - Jainee College of Nursing, Krishna International Mahalakshmi Women's College and Jainee Group of Institutions Campus - Jainee College of Engineering and Technology.

Personal care:-

Hindustan Unilever, Nandini Herbal Care (Nandini Kesar Almond Goti), IPSA Labs (Eraser Plus Cream), Hindustan Unilever (Clinic Plus Ayurveda Care Shampoo) and Emami.

Others:

Shree Kuberji Builders, Jyothi Chemical Industries (Texma Toilet Cleaner), LG Electronics India (LG Water Purifier), KD Rockland Industries (Puncture Killer), Wox Coolers (Wox) and Evapoler Eco Cooling Solutions.