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Synopsis

The Centre has issued a significant directive requiring all advertisers and advertising agencies to submit a 'Self-Declaration Certificate' before publishing or broadcasting any advertisements after directives from the Supreme Court.

As per the Press Information Bureau (PIB), in response to the Supreme Court's directive, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has announced the implementation of this new requirement across different media platforms. For television and radio advertisements, the self-declaration certificate must be submitted through the Broadcast Seva Portal of the MIB. For print and digital media advertisements, submissions will be made via the Press Council of India’s portal.

This directive, stemming from the Supreme Court's Order dated May 7, 2024, in Writ Petition Civil No. 645/2022-IMA & Anr. Vs. UOI & Ors., aims to promote transparency and consumer protection in advertising practices.

The portals for these submissions will be operational starting June 4, 2024. Advertisers and advertising agencies must obtain and upload the self-declaration certificates for all new advertisements that will be issued, telecast, aired, or published on or after June 18, 2024. This two-week buffer period is intended to allow stakeholders ample time to familiarise themselves with the self-certification process. Advertisements that are already running do not require self-certification at this time.

The self-declaration certificate must verify that the advertisement does not contain misleading claims and complies with all relevant regulatory guidelines, including those outlined in Rule 7 of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, and the Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council of India. Advertisers must also provide proof of uploading the certificate to the relevant broadcaster, printer, publisher, or electronic media platform.

In line with the Supreme Court's directive, no advertisement will be permitted to run on television, print media, or the internet without a valid self-declaration certificate. This measure is designed to foster responsible advertising practices and protect consumers from misleading advertisements.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting urges all advertisers, broadcasters, and publishers to comply with this directive diligently to ensure a transparent and accountable advertising environment.