National e-commerce policy is in final stage and to be presented before top-level: Report

It is reported that the proposed national e-commerce policy that is being formulated by the commerce and industry ministry is in the final stage and no new draft policy will be issued now for seeking views of stakeholders.

On August 2, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had a detailed discussion with representatives of e-commerce firms and a domestic traders' body on the proposed policy.

In that meeting, a broad level of consensus emerged among the concerned stakeholders on the proposed policy.

"Now no draft policy will come. That exercise is over now. We are just getting a final sign off,” an official said, adding there will be a presentation of the proposed policy at the top level of the government.

The official also mentioned that in terms of data localization, the e-commerce companies would have to follow the law of the land.

Earlier the ministry had issued two draft national e-commerce policies.

The draft of 2019 urged to address six broad areas of the e-commerce ecosystem - data, infrastructure development, e-commerce marketplaces, regulatory issues, stimulating domestic digital economy and export promotion through e-commerce.

The draft had outlined a framework for restrictions on cross-border data flow; collection or processing of sensitive data locally and storing it abroad; measures to contain sale of counterfeit products, prohibited items and pirated content; and review of the current practice of not imposing custom duties on electronic transmissions in the light of the changing digital economy.

It had also suggested provisions on promoting exports through ecommerce; and developing capacity for data storage in India.

The proposed policy would take into account the interests of all stakeholders, like investors, manufacturers, MSMEs, traders, retailers, startups and consumers.

The government is also in the process of framing consumer protection rules for the sector.

Broadly the intention is to make the policy work along with the consumer protection rules and not in conflict with each other.

The e-commerce policy aims to prepare strategies for providing a conducive environment for inclusive and harmonious growth of the e-commerce sector through a streamlined regulatory framework for ease of doing business, adoption of modern technologies, integration of supply chains and enhancing exports through this medium.