Celebrities must disclose interest in products they endorse: Govt

Both government and private advertisements shall be covered by the new set of rules

The central government on Friday notified new guidelines under the Consumer Protection Act in a bid to curb misleading advertisements. These guidelines make it mandatory for celebrity endorsers to disclose their material interest in the product they are endorsing, prohibit surrogate advertisements, and also lay down rules that should govern ads that involve children or child products.

These new rules on Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022 —which have come into force with immediate effect — lay down conditions that must be met while issuing bait advertisements or free-claim advertisements.

Bait advertisement means an advertisement in which goods,