Centre issues norms to curb illegal sale of radio equipment
Centre issues norms to curb illegal sale of radio equipment on E-com sites
The CCPA, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, on Friday issued norms to curb the illegal sale of radio equipment on e-commerce sites.
NEW DELHI — The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, on Friday issued
norms to curb the illegal sale of radio equipment on e-commerce sites.
The Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of
Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie Talkies on
E-Commerce Platforms, 2025, aims to curb the unauthorised sale of wireless
devices that may pose risks to consumer safety.
The devices can mislead consumers regarding their legal
position and interfere with critical communication networks, including those
used by law enforcement and emergency services, said the Ministry.
The guidelines were finalised following extensive
inter-ministerial consultations with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), where it was observed that
walkie-talkies are being sold on e-commerce platforms without mandatory and
clear disclosures regarding the requirement of wireless operating license or
compliance with applicable laws.
The product listings for walkie-talkies do not specify
whether the device requires a license from the concerned authority for use.
“The omission of details such as frequency range,
licensing obligations under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or the Wireless
Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Use of Low Power, Very Low Power Short Range
Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018 and
the potential legal consequences of unauthorised use, misleads consumers into
believing that the devices are freely operable by the general public,” the
Ministry said.
Further, the guidelines mandate that only authorised and
compliant walkie-talkie devices operating on permitted frequencies are listed
for sale on online platforms.
It stated that product listings must specify frequency
ranges and other technical parameters and include proof of regulatory approval
(equipment type approval). It also requires e-commerce entities to undertake
due diligence and verify regulatory compliance, including licensing where
applicable, and listings lacking frequency information or necessary
certification should be taken down.
The new norms also prohibit misleading advertisements or
product descriptions that may misinform consumers about the legal usage of such
devices.
Sellers should ensure that equipment listed for sale does
not operate on frequencies that are not exempted from the requirement of
frequency assignment and authorisation by the DOT and ensure that the frequency
bands on the product description are clearly labelled.
The guidelines also outline penalties and enforcement
mechanisms for violations by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Previously, the CCPA issued 13 notices against 16, 970
product listings to leading digital marketplaces against the listing and sale
of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms. These were found without proper
frequency disclosure, licensing information, or Equipment Type Approval (ETA),
thereby, violating the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
“These platforms are under constant monitoring and
examination, in addition to notification of the guidelines,” the Ministry said.
