Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs notified the Direct Selling Guidelines, 2016 in the Gazette of India on 26.10.2016 as guiding principles for State Governments to consider regulating the business of direct selling and multi-level marketing and strengthen the existing regulatory mechanism on direct selling and multi-level marketing for preventing fraud and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers. State Governments/Union Territories, being enforcement agencies, may take necessary action to implement these guidelines. In terms of the Direct Selling Guidelines, 2016, State Governments will set up a mechanism to monitor/supervise the activities of direct sellers, direct selling entities regarding compliance with the guidelines. Besides, the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 has been introduced in Lok Sabha on 8th July, 2019 which seeks to provide the measures to be taken by the Central Government to prevent unfair trade practices in direct selling.

 

In terms of the Direct Selling Guidelines, 2016, no person or entity will participate in money circulation scheme in the garb of direct selling business. Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services has intimated that there is no information available with them that law enforcement agencies are wrongfully booking genuine direct selling firms under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act, 1978.

 

This information was given in a written reply by the Minister of State for   Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Danve Raosaheb Dadarao in the Rajya Sabha today.

 

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