New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on e-commerce platform Snapdeal for selling toys that did not comply with mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification norms under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020.
CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said a final order has been issued against Snapdeal (Ace Vector Limited) after the authority took suo motu cognisance of the matter.
In addition, notices have been sent to other e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart, as well as sellers such as Stallion Trading Company and Electronics Bazar Store.
Apart from the monetary penalty, the CCPA has directed Snapdeal to ensure that no toy lacking BIS certification is listed, hosted or advertised on its platform in the future. The platform has also been instructed to prominently display contact details, email addresses and Grievance Officer information to enable prompt consumer redressal.
The Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 came into force on January 1, 2021, making BIS certification mandatory for all toys sold in India.
According to the CCPA’s findings, non-compliant toys continued to be available on Snapdeal despite claims of delisting, with listings reportedly visible as recently as December 2025. The authority noted that the platform earned ₹41,032 in fees from sales of such toys through two identified sellers — Stallion Trading Company and Thriftkart.
The investigation highlighted multiple lapses, including absence of key details such as manufacturer name, address and mandatory BIS certification numbers on product listings. The CCPA termed Snapdeal’s due diligence “inadequate”, stating that it relied solely on seller self-declarations without independent verification.
Responding to the order, a Snapdeal spokesperson said the company operates as a marketplace platform and remains committed to compliance with applicable laws. The spokesperson added that issues relating to intermediary liability are pending before various high courts and that the company will seek appropriate judicial review.
However, the CCPA rejected Snapdeal’s argument that it functions like a physical shopping mall, stating that the platform exercises substantial control over transactions through promotional campaigns such as “Toofan Sale” and “Deal of the Day”, quality tags, logistics management, refunds and replacement schemes.
The authority observed that consumer protection principles have evolved from “caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware) to “caveat venditor” (let the seller beware), placing responsibility on both sellers and facilitating platforms to ensure product safety and quality compliance.
Under the Consumer Protection Act, goods that fail to meet mandatory standards may be deemed defective, and non-compliance can amount to misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. The Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 prohibit platforms from engaging in unfair trade practices.
The CCPA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and urged all e-commerce entities to adopt stricter verification mechanisms and ensure accurate disclosures to maintain a safe and transparent digital marketplace.
