CCPA Issues Notices to Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and JioMart on 16 May 2026 over the alleged sale of herbicide products. The CCPA had earlier imposed penalties on several e-commerce entities on 16 January 2026 for the illegal sale of unauthorised walkie-talkies.

Central Consumer Protection Authority

The Central Consumer Protection Authority is a statutory regulator established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. It functions under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and it deals with unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, and consumer rights violations.

Walkie-talkies and Radio Equipment Rules

Walkie-talkies are handheld two-way radios used for short-range communication. In India, radio equipment must comply with licensing rules, frequency allocation norms, and Equipment Type Approval (ETA) requirements when applicable. The January 2026 action covered Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs) operating outside the licence-exempt frequency band. The CCPA found listings that described such devices as “licence-free” or “100% legal” without proper disclosure of licensing requirements.

E-commerce liability and platform compliance

The CCPA recorded more than 16,900 non-compliant listings of walkie-talkies across multiple platforms during its suo motu investigation. The order stated that platforms enabling listing, hosting, discovery, and promotion of regulated products cannot be treated as passive intermediaries for consumer protection purposes. The CCPA also issued Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms in 2025. These guidelines apply to online marketplaces that list radio equipment for sale in India.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 created the Central Consumer Protection Authority.
• Equipment Type Approval is a certification linked to radio and wireless equipment compliance in India.
• Ultra-high frequency bands are used by several communication devices, including some walkie-talkies.
• Suo motu action means action taken by an authority on its own initiative.

Penalty details

On 16 January 2026, Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Meta Platforms Inc. each received a penalty of ₹10 lakh. JioMart, Talk Pro, Chimiya and MaskMan Toys each received a penalty of ₹1 lakh for similar violations concerning walkie-talkies.