New e-commerce policy aims to help regulate domestic players

NEW DELHI: The government will regulate the business of domestic e-commerce players only after a new policy is in place as it will help create a level-playing field with companies such as Flipkart and Amazon that have overseas investors.
Amid concerns that domestic players do not have to comply with regulations such as mandatory sourcing from a larger pool of buyers, the government has expressed its inability to put in place regulations, at least immediately. “We first need to put in place regulations for the sector to provide a legal backing,” an officer told TOI. Currently, only FDI rules have been notified.
On Saturday, the department for promotion of industry and internal trade released a draft e-commerce policy for public comment, which is seen to be the basis for regulation of all players, both domestic and foreign.