Self-declaration for advertisers restricted to meals, well being sectors

The Info and Broadcasting Ministry has determined to ease norms of self-declaration certificates (SDC) for advertisers in a giant aid for the advertisers. In an advisory issued on Wednesday, the Ministry acknowledged that commercials issued for merchandise associated to meals and well being sectors will likely be required to add an annual self-certificate on the Broadcast Seva Portal and Press Council of India portal.

This advisory supersedes all earlier advisories by the Ministry, which implies the mandate of SDC has been restricted to solely the meals and well being sectors, business sources identified.

Proof of SDC

“In mild of the instructions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court docket of India, and in supersession of earlier Advisories dated 03.06.2024 and 05.06.2024, advertisers/promoting companies issuing commercial for services associated to Meals and Well being sectors are suggested to add an annual self-declaration certificates” on the portals, the I&B Ministry acknowledged. It added that advertisers and advert companies have to “make out there the proof of importing the self-declaration to the involved media stakeholders, comparable to TV channels, newspapers, entities concerned in publishing of commercials on the web, and many others. for the file.”

Up to now, advertisers and advert companies throughout sectors had been mandatorily required to add a self-declaration certificates earlier than releasing any new adverts. These norms had come into pressure on June 18.

Nonetheless, numerous advert and media business our bodies had urged the Ministry to restrict the mandate of SDCs for less than well being and meals sectors. They’d additionally prompt that importing of SDC must be required to be completed solely annually and never for each commercial launched.

“It’s clarified that it shall be the accountability of the advertisers/promoting companies to make sure that each commercial being issued by them is in adherence to the relevant Indian legal guidelines, guidelines and laws in letter and spirit,” the I&B Ministry added in its advisory.