Centre Issues Guidelines to Regulate Sale of Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, has issued new guidelines to prevent the illegal listing and sale of radio equipment, including walkie-talkies, on e-commerce platforms.
The 2025 guidelines aim to curb unauthorized sales of wireless devices that may pose safety risks, mislead consumers, or interfere with critical communication networks. They require:
Only compliant devices operating on permitted frequencies to be listed.
Mandatory disclosure of technical specs and regulatory approvals (e.g., frequency range, ETA).
E-commerce platforms to verify compliance and remove non-compliant listings.
Prohibition of misleading ads or product descriptions.
Penalties for violations under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The move follows inter-ministerial consultations with the DoT and MHA. The CCPA had earlier issued 13 notices covering 16,970 illegal listings. Platforms are now under continuous monitoring.