ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council Upholds complaints against 17 out of 31 Ads During Nov & Dec 2011

During the months of November and December, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of ASCI upheld complaints made against 17 advertisements, from various sectors like Agricultural products, Deodorants, Personal Hygiene and Home Shopping Networks. During the same period, the CCC also did not uphold complaints against14 advertisements.

The CCC received a complaint against Bollgard, which made claims of boosting cotton farmers' income by Rs. 31,500 crore, reducing usage of insecticides, containing in-built plant protection and increasing yields. The CCC concluded that the claims made in the advertisement and cited in the complaint, were not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the ASCI Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

As deodorant advertisements are constantly under the radar, Pass Port Deodorant's advertisement was pulled up by the CCC. The TVC focuses on a woman's body and lewd expressions on the face of the male actor. It was concluded, that the advertisement was obscene and that, in the light of generally prevailing standards of decency and propriety, the TVC was likely to cause grave or widespread offence. The complaint was UPHELD.

Telemart Shopping Network Pvt Ltd's advertisement of Sandhi Sudha was under the scanner as the TVC made claims of curing arthritis and spondylitis and of a "Money Back Guarantee' if the product was ineffective. The CCC concluded that in the absence of scientific substantiation, the claim, "Sandhi Sudha cures the disease of arthritis and spondylitis", was not substantiated and was misleading. The complaint regarding "money back guarantee" was misleading as the terms and conditions for the refund were not mentioned in the TVC and hence the complaint was UPHELD.

Association of Mutual Funds in India's booklet states that "Every Mutual Fund is managed by a fund manager, who by using his investment management skills and necessary research work, ensures better returns than what an investor can manage on his own". The objection is to the word "ensures" as it could be misleading. Hence it was UPHELD.

During these two months, the CCC also received complaints against Cadbury' Bournville, Piramal Healthcare Ltd's Supractiv Complete, Jockey, MetLife India Insurance Company Ltd, Ad promos of C.I.D., Fast Track watches, Killer Deodorant, Wild Stone Deodorant, TATA Docomo, Colgate Palmolive, [REPEAT] Dulux Paints, and Santoor Soap amongst others. As these advertisements did not contravene ASCI's codes or guidelines, they were NOT UPHELD.