MIB recommends food and health sectors submit an “annual self-declaration certificate”

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to the food and health sector to submit an annual “self-declaration certificate.” The recommendation follows a meeting between the ministry and industry stakeholders, including Meta, Google, ISA, DNPA and others, held on June 25, where the ministry confirmed the suggestion to limit the mandate to the food and health sector only.

“In view of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and in deference to the previous Warnings dated 03.06.2024 and 05.06.2024, advertisers/advertising agents publishing advertisements for products and services related to food and health sector are advised to upload the annual self-declaration certificate on the above mentioned portals, as applicable, and share the proof of uploading the self-declaration with the concerned media entities such as television channels, newspapers, web-based ad-publishers, etc. for documentation purposes,” it read.

These annual certificates issued by advertisers/ad agencies will be uploaded on Broadcast Seva portal in case of TV/Radio advertisements and on Press Council of India (PCI) portal in case of print/online advertisements.

It has also been clarified that advertisers/advertising agencies have the responsibility to ensure that every advertisement published by them complies with the letter and spirit of the applicable Indian laws, rules and regulations.

Currently, PCI has around 66,000 SDCs on its portal, while BSP has around 8,000.