Brand ambassadors likely to come under consumer act soon!

In a move that may trigger a fresh debate over the accountability of brand ambassadors for endorsing different consumable products, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) wants celebrities to be brought under the ambit of Consumer Protection Act. Following the issuance of notice by Food Department to actress Madhuri Dikshit for making claims in endorsement of Maggi, the CAIT on Saturday has written to Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan for fixing the accountability of star promoters.

“Since stars influence choice of consumers and promote sale of products, brand ambassadors endorsing products should be brought under the ambit of Consumer Protection Act, prescribes stern action as per laws enacted in the Act if something goes wrong after consuming a particular food item being promoted by a celebrity,” CAIT general secretary Praveen Khandelwal said, adding, “We will be meeting the minister in next week over the issue.”

Khandelwal further told Millennium Post that CAIT will launch a massive drive to make it happen as engaging brand ambassadors for promotion of product has become a fashion in the country and often consumers are trapped by such endorsements, irrespective of quality of the product. In its communication to the Consumer Affairs Minister, the CAIT has argued that brand ambassadors are integral part of sales campaign of the product.