World · India Bureau
Celebrity status no shield from law, says Maharashtra FDA chief
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration commissioner has reminded celebrities that their public prominence does not exempt them from legal responsibilities when promoting products affecting public health.
LSN India ·
Tukaramunde, commissioner of the Maharashtra FDA, has underscored that celebrity status cannot be used as a license to circumvent legal obligations, particularly regarding the promotion of products with potential public health implications.
The official's statement comes in response to growing concerns about celebrity endorsements of health-related products without adequate scrutiny. Mundhе emphasized that popularity and widespread influence do not place public figures above the law or regulatory frameworks designed to protect consumer interests.
His remarks were triggered by President Droupadi Murmu's recent appeal for greater responsibility among celebrities in endorsing products. The president's intervention highlighted the need for stricter adherence to advertising standards and public health regulations.
The FDA commissioner's statement signals an intent to hold celebrity endorsers accountable alongside manufacturers and advertisers when promoting products that could impact public wellbeing. The move reflects broader efforts across India's regulatory bodies to ensure that prominent personalities exercise caution in their commercial associations and verify claims before lending their names to products.
The development underscores India's ongoing efforts to strengthen consumer protection frameworks and prevent misleading health claims in the marketplace.