CAIT warns Centre against tweaking e-com FDI policy

​New Delhi: Traders' body CAIT on Wednesday urged the government not to accede to any demand by large e-commerce players or US associations for changes or delayed implementation of revised FDI norms for e-commerce.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) warned that any move to amend the policy will be opposed by the trading community "tooth and nail" and demanded a probe into the business activities of large e-commerce players. "We want the government to institute a probe into the business activities of major e-commerce players over the last two-three years. Those found violating the policy should be strongly punished," CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal told reporters here. 

Government's new regulations bar online marketplaces with foreign investment to sell products of companies in which they hold stake as well as ban exclusive marketing arrangements. Another provision states that the inventory of a vendor will be seen as controlled by a marketplace if over 25 per cent of the vendor's purchases are from the marketplace entity, including the latter's wholesale unit. Some large online marketplaces have favoured an extension of the February 1 deadline for the new and tighter rules. 

Meanwhile, CAIT demanded that a comprehensive e-commerce policy be brought about at the earliest, and underlined the need for an effective regulator, that is "armed with enforcement and adjudicatory powers to enforce e-commerce policy". 

According to CAIT, restrictions imposed in FDI policy in e-commerce should also be made applicable on domestic e-commerce players to ensure a level playing field and fair competition. The government should also make it mandatory for e-commerce companies to obtain a compliance certificate from the current year and companies should not be allowed to raise funds until such a compliance certificate is obtained, CAIT said. 

On Tuesday, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) urged the government to defer the implementation of revised norms for e-commerce companies having foreign investments, as few provisions are unclear and onerous. IAMAI argued that it would not be possible for online retailers to comply with the norm related to 25 per cent cap.