CCI’s ‘soft view’ on E-comm rules irks phone retailers

NEW DELHI: Mobile phone retailer bodies are disappointed with the competition watchdog’s call to ecommerce companies to self-regulate discounting and transparency, and have urged the government to form a separate regulatory body to oversee fairness in retail practices of the likes of Amazon and Flipkart.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday released a study on etailers’ business practices, advising them to adopt a self-regulatory approach and come up with transparent policies on search ranking, discounting and treatment of user data.

The All-India Mobile Retailer Association (AIMRA) and the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) have, in the past, moved CCI and the Department of Industries and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with a demand for a separate watchdog to ensure a level playing field for offline and online trade.