The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) upheld a previous decision by the (CCP), which found Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited guilty of misleading consumers about its product’s nature and character. The company was found to have violated Section 10(2)(b) of the Competition Act, 2010.
The Tribunal ordered Reckitt Benckiser to pay a penalty of Rs30 million for deceptive marketing practices related to Strepsils. The product is currently registered as a food item, not a medicinal one, despite past advertising that suggested otherwise.
Reckitt Benckiser was also directed to make significant changes to its packaging and disclosures, including prominently displaying the disclaimer “Non-Medicated” in both English and Urdu on the front of the packaging and blister packs. The company must also advertise these changes extensively in newspapers across Pakistan until full compliance is achieved.