MAM
Ensure ads do not interfere with entertainment, MIB urges channels
NEW DELHI: The ministry of information and broadcasting has reiterated the provision in the Advertising Code that “all advertisement should be clearly distinguishable from the programme and should not in any manner interfere with the programme.
The Advertising Code says that this includes “use of lower part of screen to carry captions, static or moving alongside the programme.”
Information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that a fresh advisory in this regard had been issued to all television channels on 10 March 2017.
This is a provision in Section 7(10) of the Advertising Code which forms part of the Cable TV Networks Acc(Regulation) Act 1995.
According to the Ministry, several advisories have been issued in the past five years on different issues including coverage of anti-terrorist operations, asking TV channels not to telecast inflammatory news of communal nature, urging non-telecast of a film made on the Nirbhaya rape case, and against showing clippings from films which have not been given the ‘U’ certificate.
Brands
Reliance Consumer Products partners with Fazer for premium chocolates in India
MoU signed during Finnish President’s visit to leverage RCPL’s distribution for Fazer brands.
MUMBAI: Reliance just added Finnish chocolate to its sweet spot because when the land of saunas meets the land of spices, the result is a premium bar that melts borders. Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Finnish food company Fazer to manufacture, market and distribute Fazer’s premium branded chocolates across India. The agreement was formalised during Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s state visit to India on 7 March 2026.
The long-term strategic partnership combines Fazer’s heritage recipes, quality standards and global chocolate expertise with RCPL’s massive distribution network reaching nearly three million retail outlets nationwide. The collaboration aims to introduce Fazer’s well-known premium products to Indian consumers while strengthening business ties between the two nations.
Reliance Consumer Products Limited director T. Krishnakumar said, “By combining Fazer’s globally trusted brands and manufacturing excellence with RCPL’s local production capabilities, robust distribution network and deep consumer insights, we are well positioned to bring world-class products to Indian consumers and elevate the overall category experience.”
Fazer president and CEO Christoph Vitzthum added, “With RCPL handling commercialisation and distribution in India, we can establish a premium position in the chocolate market and create a foundation for a broader nationwide rollout.”
Since its launch in 2022, RCPL has steadily expanded in the confectionery segment by reviving legacy Indian brands such as Ravalgaon, Toffeeman, Pan Pasand and Lotus Chocolate Company. Fazer, a major player in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and China with exports to over 40 countries, sees India’s fast-growing chocolate market as a key opportunity.
In a country where chocolate is no longer just a treat but a growing daily indulgence, this tie-up isn’t just about bars, it’s about blending Nordic precision with Indian scale to sweeten the next chapter of the confectionery story.
