{
  "id": 9137857,
  "title": "CCP fines 3M Pakistan Rs10mn over Scotch-Brite ‘deceptive marketing’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/ccp-fines-3m-pakistan-rs10mn-over-scotch-brite-deceptive-marketing",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T11:29:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440680/ccp-fines-3m-pakistan-rs10mn-over-scotch-brite-deceptive-marketing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has fined 3M Pakistan Rs10 million for engaging in deceptive marketing practices, as outlined in Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010. The decision came after Colgate-Palmolive Pakistan Limited filed a complaint, asserting that a video advertisement featuring a comparison between Scotch-Brite and Colgate-Palmolive's Max Scrub was misleading and false. During the 20-minute washing test showcased in the advertisement, Max Scrub was depicted to deteriorate significantly while Scotch-Brite maintained its condition. CCP initiated an investigation and subsequently issued a show cause notice to 3M Pakistan. The company disputed the video's authenticity and claimed that the demonstration had been conducted by an employee in a personal capacity without any company authorization. CCP determined that Muhammad Imran, the then Regional Sales Manager of 3M Pakistan, had admitted to making the comparison during the inquiry. As the demonstration was directly linked to Imran's official duties and took place within the context of a marketing campaign commissioned by 3M Pakistan, CCP held him accountable for the company's actions. The commission concluded that the comparison of competing products without reasonable basis or substantiation could result in false or misleading advertising. It was found that 3M Pakistan failed to provide evidence to support the comparison. Additionally, a report from a third-party laboratory, submitted by the complainant, concluded that both products were of similar quality, which was not refuted by 3M during the proceedings. CCP also dismissed 3M's argument that the demonstration, shown to third-party channel partners rather than directly to consumers, was not classified as advertising, emphasizing that these partners were tasked with promoting Scotch-Brite, boosting its market visibility, and increasing sales. Consequently, CCP imposed a penalty of Rs10 million on 3M Pakistan and instructed the company to refrain from repeating similar deceptive practices involving Max Scrub or any other comparable product. Furthermore, 3M Pakistan was required to submit a compliance report regarding the payment of the penalty within 60 days, with an additional penalty of Rs50,000 per day imposed for any failure to comply.",
  "summary": "The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed a penalty of Rs10 million on 3M Pakistan (Private) Limited for deceptive marketing through a false or misleading comparison of its Scotch-Brite product with Colgate-Palmolive Pakistan Limited’s Max Scrub, in violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010. According to a CCP statement released on Tuesday, the proceedings originated…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}