Amazon, Snapdeal shrug off ‘country of origin’ disclosure duty; say it’s manufacturer or seller’s job

While e-commerce platforms were directed to ensure displaying ‘country of origin’ tag on products sold online, Amazon and Snapdeal have shrugged off the responsibility and have put the onus on manufacturers and sellers. Two of the biggest e-commerce companies in India, Jeff Bezos’ Amazon and homegrown Snapdeal, told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that they are only ‘marketplace-based’ e-commerce platforms or intermediaries, The Indian Express reported. Further, the responsibility of such disclosure lies with the manufacturer or seller and not on the listing platform, they said in response to a petition seeking mandatory declaration of the country of origin on products offered for sale on e-commerce websites.