An independent agency is being set up to take suo-motto action against mis-leading advertisements. Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas told AIR that the agency will have experts from various fields to check the exaggerated claims about their products and services in their advertisements.
Mr. Thomas said that his ministry is in consultation with Information and Broadcasting ministry along with other stakeholders to chalk out the strategy at the earliest.

Expressing concern over rising consumer complaints against misleading advertisements, the minister emphasized the need for co-ordination between different departments to keep a tab on such advertisements.

He added at present, the Food Processing, Health and Information and Broadcasting Ministries are dealing with misleading advertisements under various legislations separately.

Stating that the proposed agency will work under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Thomas said that an inter-ministerial committee was constituted in August to look into these issues.