Amazon, Flipkart warehouses raided in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Officials from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) conducted raids on Amazon and Flipkart warehouses in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. They seized thousands of products, including toys, water bottles, ceiling fans, and baby diapers that lacked the required BIS certification. At Amazon's warehouse in Puduvoyal, officials confiscated 3,376 items valued at around 36 lakh rupees. The products included insulated flasks, food containers, and other goods that were found to be in violation of the BIS Act. The operation was led by BIS joint directors Gowththam B J and Dhinesh Rajagopalan. In a separate operation, Flipkart's warehouse in Koduvalli was also raided. Inspectors seized packs of baby diapers, casserole boxes, and stainless steel water bottles. This raid was headed by director Jeevanandam D and joint director Sreejith Mohan J. The head of the BIS Chennai branch, G Bhavani, encouraged shoppers to check for the BIS certification mark on products. She explained how customers can verify products using the BIS Care App. They can input a certification mark license number to see the product's details. The BIS warned that companies selling uncertified products could face severe penalties, including fines up to ten times the product value or imprisonment for up to two years. The public is urged to report misuse of the ISI mark through the BIS Care app or by email. In response, an Amazon spokesperson stated that they require sellers to comply with all relevant laws and regulations. They also mentioned taking action against noncompliant products when notified. Meanwhile, a Flipkart representative noted their commitment to helping sellers comply with legal standards and conducting regular audits.