New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority imposed a ₹5 lakh penalty on Snapdeal for facilitating the sale of non-BIS compliant toys in violation of the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020. The authority held that the platform engaged in unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.
The CCPA, led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, issued a final order against Snapdeal, operated by Ace Vector Limited. It found that toys listed on the platform failed to meet mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards norms, which became compulsory from January 1, 2021.
The CCPA took suo motu cognisance after discovering continued non-compliance. Despite claims of delisting, non-compliant toys remained available on the platform as recently as December 2025. The authority noted that Snapdeal earned ₹41,032 in fees from two sellers, Stallion Trading Company and Thriftkart, through such sales.
Investigators also found several lapses. Many listings lacked the manufacturer’s name, address and mandatory BIS certification numbers. Moreover, the platform relied only on seller self-declarations without independent verification. The authority termed this due diligence inadequate.
CCPA penalty Snapdeal cites unfair trade practices
Snapdeal argued that it functioned as a marketplace, similar to a shopping mall. However, the CCPA rejected this defence. It observed that the company exercised substantial control over transactions. For instance, it managed promotional campaigns such as “Toofan Sale” and “Deal of the Day”. It also tagged products with quality assurances like “great quality at best price”.
Further, the platform controlled logistics, refunds and replacement schemes. Therefore, the authority held that the burden of ensuring product safety rests on both the seller and the facilitating platform. It said the shift from caveat emptor to caveat venditor places responsibility on sellers and intermediaries to ensure compliance.
The CCPA also noted that Snapdeal failed to provide a categorical undertaking that non-BIS toys would not reappear on its platform. Consequently, it imposed the ₹5 lakh penalty and issued additional directions.
The authority directed Snapdeal to guarantee that no non-compliant BIS toy is listed or advertised in future. It also ordered the company to prominently display contact details and grievance officer information for consumer redressal.
Earlier, the CCPA had issued notices to e-commerce entities including Amazon and Flipkart, along with certain sellers, for violations of the Toys (Quality Control) Order and BIS standards. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, goods that fail to meet mandatory standards qualify as defective.
The authority reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring a transparent digital marketplace. It urged all platforms to adopt strict verification mechanisms and accurate disclosures to prevent hazardous products from reaching consumers.
