Delhi HC directs Centre to consider as a representation a PIL for guidelines on certification of products that claim to kill COVID-19

The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Government to consider as representation a PIL seeking guidelines on testing, launch and certification of products which claim to sterilize or kill COVID-19. (Green Dream Foundation vs UOI).The order was passed by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan in a PIL preferred by Green Dream Foundation. .The Petitioner informed the Court that a Bangalore-based company had launched a product called 'Corona Oven' which claimed that it could sterilise food, PPE kits etc and protect against COVID-19. .It was the Petitioner's concern that while the product claimed that it was approved by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, there was no mechanism in place which authorized IISc to grant such a certification. .The Petitioner added as per its information, the certification by IISc was only limited to testing the product’s UV radiation inside the oven and it merely tested the functionality of the product to that extent. .In view of the above, the Petitioner filed the PIL for the benefit of those who are not aware of the standard of certification of COVID-19 sterilization products/devices in the market and are thus vulnerable to falling prey to malafide and unfair trade practices. .The Petitioner asserted that at present, the Central Government had no proper mechanism to stop the launch, promotion and sale of products which claim to kill/eliminate COVID-19 but are not certified by any agency. .The Petitioner thus prayed for a direction to the Central Government to formulate guidelines for testing, launch, certification etc. for such products that claim to kill covid-19 virus or sterilize products from COVID-19. .After hearing the Petitioner, the Court directed the Central Government authorities concerned to treat the petition as a representation, in accordance with law and as soon as possible and practicable. .The petition was filed through Advocate Nilesh Bijlani.