ASCI Update: Complaints against 95 out of 125 ads upheld in December 2016

58 ads were from healthcare category, followed by 10 ads from food and beverages category.

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 December 2016. The ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) received complaints against 125 ads; complaints against 95 ads were upheld.

Of these, 58 ads were from the healthcare category, followed by 10 ads from food and beverages category; nine ads were from the personal care category, four ads from the education category and 14 ads were upheld in the others category.

Complaints against brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment for false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims, and hence, violated the ASCI's code include Mankind Pharma (Heal-O-Kind Nanofine Gel), Life fitness point, Dhanwantri Pharmaceutical (SwarnMadhu), Sri Maharishi Pharma Dr. Titus's Centre for Sexual & Mental Health (Dr. Titus P Varghese), Amrutanjan Health Care (Back pain roll on), Anmol Tila, Magic Wings Centre, Herbal Daily (Herbal Daily Haldi), SKS Ayurveda Impex (SKS Ayurveda Range of Products), Astha Clinic (AJM), Micropark Wellness (Muslinites Range), Izda Healthcare (Six Foot Range of Products), Chitransh Homeo Hall, Cenezoic Remedies (Diaba Dops Liquid), Hair Grow, Delhi Clinic, Dr.Gupta's Skin & Hair Hospital, Dr. Sanjeev Cancer & Liver Clinic, Naaz Stone Cut, Bhagyesh Health & Beauty Care (Height Grow Range of Products), Ratan Ayurvedic (Ratans Hightop Syrup), Hercules Healthcare (Long Looks Height Gain Capsule) and Dr. Herring German Homoeo Company (Dr Herring German Homoeo Co Product).

The other brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment include Sidhji Sevashram (Fakiri Tilla), Sri Ganesh Nisargopchar Kendra, Sri Ganesh Nisargopchar Kendra, Sahar Herbal Pharmacy (Sahar Herbal Pharmas Products), Dr Rajguru Hair Care & Research Clinic, SunehaHealth Cut Care (Suneha Fat Churna), Rajnish Hot Deals (Playwin), Nurture Health care, Rajnish Hot Deals (Playwin capsules and oil), Matru-Chhaya Clinic, National Healthcare (National Plato PlusRas), Guduchi The Ayurvedism (Obesidat), Vcare Skin & Slimming Clinic (Vcare Slim N Skin Clinic), SBF Healthcare and Research Centre, Sundar Dezire Good Life (Dezire Goodlife Range Of Products), Abbott Health Care (Pediasure Vanilla Delight), Nature and Science Ayurveda, Juvenor Pharmaceuticals (Muslinites Gold), Oplus Heart Center, D S Research Centre, Kundan Kidney Care Centre, Sri Sai Ayurvedic Hospital, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Kalpa Foundation, Formula-Ten, Stammering Relief Centre, Dr Nawal Kishore Hospital & Research Centre, Praveen Surana Deaf Cure Centre and MaaHomeoChikitsha Kendra.

More brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment include, Naik Homeopathy Care & Cure Clinic, Gurudev Multispecialty Centre, Apoorv Hi Tech, Adila Biotech (Asth Prash) and SBS Biotech Unit-II (More Power Capsule).

Education brands pulled up for violating ASCI guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions were Siva Sivani Institute of Management, Oriental Group of Educational Institutions, Datatec Group Of Institutions (HannasEng Inst) and Goodwill Institute of Security System and Automation Technology.

Emami (Fair & Handsome 5 Action Fairness), Emami (Fair and Handsome), Emami (Fair and Handsome Fairness Cream), Advanced Hair Studio, Greek Retail Inocos Herbal Industries (Radyance Instant Skin Brightener), Philips Electronics India (Philips Electric Shaver), Wipro Enterprises (Chandrika soap), Active Roots and Reckitt Benckiser (India) (Dettol Liquid Handwash) were the brands that were pulled up from the Personal Care category for violating ASCI guidelines.

The food and beverage brands that have come under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines include Borges India Private (Borges Olive Oil), Pernod Ricard India, (Seagram's Royal Stag), Heinz India (Complan Nutri Grow), Rakyan Beverages (RAW Pressery), Saboo Sodium Chloro (Surya Salt), Today Tea (Today Premium Tea), K. Patel Phyto Extractions (Dot Shot), Hershey India (Hershey's Spreads), Dabur India (Real Wellnezz Jamun) and Gajanand Foods Private (Gajanand Hing).

Other brands which were pulled up for objectionable ads due to false and/or misleading claims include Fena (Advanced Fena Detergent Powder), Hewlett Packard India (HP Ink Tank Printing), Reliance Jio Infocomm (Reliance Jio Digital Life), TV Today Network (AajTak), Go Airlines (India) (Go Air), Berger Paints India (Lewis Berger Weather coat Anti Dust Paint), Kent RO Systems (Kent Air Purifiers), Global Consumer Products (DND Turblo liquid vaporizer), Sapna Infoway, Accelyst Solutions (Freecharge), Vaayu Home Appliances (India) (Vaayu Chiller), TV Today Network and Bennett, Coleman & Company (Television Division).