India's Uttarakhand State Suspends Licenses of 14 Patanjali Products Over Misleading Ads

The Uttarakhand state regulator has suspended the manufacturing licenses of 14 products made by Baba Ramdev's Patanjali companies for repeatedly publishing misleading advertisements about their efficacy. The prohibited products include various medicines and supplements from Patanjali Ayurved and its subsidiary Divya Pharmacy, such as Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, and eye drops.

The suspension order, issued by the state licensing authority on April 15, 2024, cited violations of Rule 159(1) of The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. A criminal complaint has also been filed against Patanjali, Ramdev, and Acharya Balkrishna, the chairman of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, for violating sections 3, 4, and 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.

This action comes amid an ongoing Supreme Court case against Patanjali for disparaging conventional medicines in its advertisements. The court has repeatedly criticized Ramdev for not complying with its directives to stop misleading advertisements of some of his traditional ayurvedic medicines. During a recent hearing, the judges questioned Ramdev and Balkrishna about the size and visibility of their published apology for the "lapses" in their advertising practices.

Why this matters: The case highlights the ongoing tensions between traditional and modern medicine in India, as well as the need for strict regulation of misleading health claims in advertising. The Supreme Court's involvement emphasizes the gravity of the issue and the potential consequences for companies that violate advertising laws and court orders.

The Supreme Court will be hearing Patanjali's case on April 30 to determine whether to press contempt charges against Ramdev. The Indian Medical Association has also criticized Ramdev for making claims about curing COVID-19 and maligning modern medicine. In a statement, the Uttarakhand state regulator said, "The repeated violations by Patanjali and its associates, despite clear court directives, left us with no choice but to suspend these manufacturing licenses. We will not tolerate any misleading claims that put public health at risk."

Key Takeaways

• Uttarakhand suspends 14 Patanjali product licenses for misleading ads
• Criminal complaint filed against Patanjali, Ramdev, and Balkrishna
• Supreme Court case ongoing against Patanjali for disparaging modern medicine
• Regulator cites repeated violations, won't tolerate misleading health claims
• Supreme Court to hear case on April 30 for potential contempt charges