‘Risk for children’: CCPA fines e-commerce site Rs 5 lakh after toys fail quality test

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on an e-commerce platform for selling toys that did not meet the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Toys Quality Control Order (QCO), enforced since January 1, 2021, requires that only toys conforming to the prescribed standards be sold to consumers.

The platform was accused of allowing the sale of toys that could pose a high safety risk to children and cause severe harm or injury. The authority conducted an inquiry into the sale of toys across various e-commerce platforms and found that the platform had not ensured only QCO 2020-qualified toys were listed. Despite being legally exempt from liability for third-party information, the e-commerce platform was held responsible for engaging in unfair trade practices and false advertising, as it played an active role in the sale process by enabling listing, hosting, advertising, and facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers.