MIB restricts SDC mandate to health & food sectors

The certificates will have to be submitted annually

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has limited the self-declaration mandate to food and health sectors only. Additionally, the applicable sectors would only be required to file for the SDC annually. An order in this regard was issued on July 3, 2024.

The order said, “It is deemed appropriate to invoke the powers vested in this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution of India for the enforcement of the fundamental right to health that encompasses the right of a consumer to be made aware of the quality of products being offered for sale by manufacturers, service, providers, advertisers and advertising agencies.”

Advertisers/advertising agencies issuing advertisements for products and services related to Food and Health sectors are advised to upload an annual self-declaration certificate and make available the proof of uploading the self-declaration to the concerned media stakeholders, such as TV channels, newspapers, entities involved in publishing of advertisements on the intenet, etc. for the record.

The self-declaration shall be uploaded by the advertiser/advertising agency on the Broadcast Sewa Portal run under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As for the advertisements in the press/print Media/Internet, the Ministry is directed to create a dedicated portal within four weeks from today. Immediately on the porfal being activated, the advertisers shall upload a Self-declaration before any advertisement is issued in the Press/Print Media/Internet.

In an earlier meeting, the MIB had relaxed its rigid 'no-amendment' stance on the self-certificate mandate, agreeing to consider advertisers' feedback on the issues faced during the rollout.

In a meeting held with industry stakeholders on June 25, the ministry shared that it is setting up a core committee to finalize its submission to the Supreme Court on July 9, and will incorporate the advertisers' inputs into its report.