Asia: Consumer Protection

Following a series of public consultations, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 20, Series of 2026, entitled “Guidelines Prescribing Prudential...

On 15 June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued, inter alia, the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Responsible Business Conduct) (Second Amendment) Directions, 2026, introducing a comprehensive new chapter governing how non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) (including housing finance companies (HFCs)) advertise, market, and sell their own and third-party financial products and services, as set out under the Reserve Bank of India Directions, 2025.

India's Supreme Court has issued a sharp rebuke to alcohol manufacturers selling vodka and other spirits in packaging designed to mimic children's fruit juice boxes.

Indian regulators are taking a stricter stance on food and beverage labeling, penalizing companies for misleading "100%" claims even when ingredient lists tell a different story. Two recent enforcement actions demonstrate that prominent product claims will be judged by the message ordinary consumers receive, not by technical compliance with compositional standards or fine-print qualifications.

Hong Kong proposes statutory cooling-off periods and contract duration caps for beauty and fitness services to combat unfair trade practices. The consultation seeks to amend the Trade Descriptions Ordinance following widespread complaints about aggressive sales tactics and wrongful payment acceptance. Will these measures reshape consumer protection and business models in high-risk service sectors?

When an airline unilaterally prepones a flight without informing passengers, leaving them stranded at an international airport, what remedies are available under consumer law? The State Consumer Commission in Chandigarh addressed this precise question, examining whether nominal compensation adequately reflects the hardship of passengers forced to purchase fresh tickets and miss connecting flights due to an airline's failure to communicate schedule changes.

Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) has issued new regulations establishing clearer procedures for imposing administrative sanctions on businesses that violate halal product assurance requirements.

India's life sciences, pharmaceutical, and consumer healthcare sectors are entering a more enforcement-driven regulatory phase. Recent interventions by the Central Government, the Central Drugs Standard Control...

Thailand's cabinet has approved a draft Act on Liability for Defective Goods, known as the "Lemon Law," which aims to strengthen buyers' positions in pursuing claims against sellers by introducing product-specific rules, clearer remedies, and a buyer-friendly presumption that shifts the burden of proof. The draft law modernizes Thailand's consumer protection framework to align with international standards, with enhanced protections for vehicles and electronic appliances, and will take effect 180 days after

The Delhi High Court's landmark ruling in Telegram FZ LLC v. Union of India addresses whether Section 69A of the IT Act permits the government to block an entire platform rather than specific content. Following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak scandal, where fraudulent channels circulated fake exam papers affecting millions of aspirants, the court upheld the Centre's power to impose a platform-wide ban on Telegram, sparking intense debate about the boundaries between examination integrity and digital censorship.

In this edition of Podcast Bites, powered by IndiaLaw LLP, host Akriti Singhal discusses the Supreme Court’s significant directions to the State of Rajasthan to formulate a comprehensive policy for the introduction and promotion of the Rajasthani language in schools.

A practical guide to navigate transaction risks, regulatory challenges and policy shifts