CCPA slaps fine on Cloudtail for selling substandard cookers on Amazon
More than 1000 units not conforming to the mandatory standards, were sold to the consumers
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs.1 lakh on Cloudtail India Private Limited for selling pressure cookers on Amazon in violation of the mandatory BIS standards.
Headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, the authority has asked Cloudtail to recall 1,033 pressure cookers and reimburse the money to the customers. It has ordered Cloudtail to submit a compliance report within 45 days.
The standards are prescribed as per the Domestic Pressure Cooker, Quality Control Order (QCO), 2020.
The Authority issued notices to major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm Mall, Shopclues Snapdeal and sellers registered on these platforms.
The statement read, “Cloudtail India is the seller of pressure cookers Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Outer Lid Pressure Cooker, 4 L. (it does not give pressure alert by a whistle.)”
In its reply, Cloudtail submitted to CCPA that after the QCO came into force, it suspended the import of the pressure cooker.
However, CCPA observed that though the import was deferred, “Despite being aware of the QCO notification, the company continued to sell the pressure cookers to the consumers.”
It noted that the violation of standards mandated by the QCOs not only endangered public safety but also made the consumers vulnerable to severe injuries, including loss of life. It added, “This is a critical cause for concern, especially in the case of a domestic pressure cooker that is present in most homes.”
It issued safety notices to alert and caution consumers against buying goods, which do not hold a valid ISI mark and violate compulsory BIS standards.
The CCPA has also issued ‘Safety Notices’ under Section 18(2)(j) of the Consumer Protection Act to alert and caution consumers against buying goods that do not hold valid ISI marks and violate compulsory BIS standards.
CCPA issued the first safety notice on helmets, pressure cookers, and cooking gas cylinders. The second notice was issued for household goods, including electric immersion water heaters, sewing machines, microwave ovens, and domestic gas stoves with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).