CCPA Fines Flipkart ₹10 Lakh Over Misleading Advertisement, Sale Of Unregistered 'Cyclosinone Herbicide'
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on e-commerce platform Flipkart for listing, advertising and facilitating the sale of an unregistered agro-chemical product, 'Cyclosinone Herbicide', and held that the claims made in relation to the product constituted a misleading advertisement and unfair trade practice.
The order was passed by CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra.
The matter arose after the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare brought to the CCPA's notice the sale and advertisement of the product on Flipkart. The product was advertised as a “Farmer and Gardener Approved Weed Killer”, besides carrying claims relating to safety, efficacy and other characteristics. The Ministry stated that 'Cyclosinone' was not included in the relevant Schedule under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Flipkart's Contentions
Flipkart contended that it operated as an e-commerce marketplace intermediary and did not manufacture, stock or sell the product. It submitted that the seller was responsible for the product and that the statutory requirements relied upon by the CCPA were not applicable to it.
Flipkart further submitted that it had removed the impugned listings and strengthened its keyword-based blocking mechanisms.
Observations and Decision
The CCPA held that Flipkart's role in listing, advertising and facilitating the sale of the product attracted statutory due-diligence obligations. It rejected the contention that describing itself as an intermediary could absolve Flipkart of its responsibilities under consumer protection and e-commerce laws.
The Authority also noted that the impugned product was advertised with claims including “Farmer and Gardener Approved Weed Killer”, “Eco-Safe Weed Terminator Lawn”, “Long Lasting Protection” and “Safe Weed Control for Lawns”. It held that these representations, coupled with the absence of adequate substantiation and disclosure regarding the product's composition and regulatory status, amounted to a misleading advertisement under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The CCPA further held that Flipkart's marketplace model did not exempt it from its statutory obligations and that contractual arrangements with sellers could not dilute those obligations.
The CCPA concluded that the impugned claims constituted misleading advertisement and unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
It directed Flipkart to:
- discontinue the false and misleading advertisement with immediate effect;
- conduct a self-audit to prevent the listing of products prohibited or hazardous under applicable law;
- pay a ₹10 lakh penalty for the first violation involving misleading advertisement and unfair trade practice; and
- submit a compliance report within 15 days of the order.
Case Title: In Re: Misleading Advertisement and Sale of 'Cyclosinone Herbicide' on Flipkart
F No. CCPA/2/2026-A (E-39132)