Islamabad, July 25, 2025 – The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has successfully recovered a penalty of Rs150 million from Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited for deceptive marketing practices related to its popular throat lozenge, Strepsils.
The recovery was made by attaching the company’s bank account, following the dismissal of Reckitt Benckiser’s appeal by the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT). According to a press release issued by the CCP, the appeal was dismissed due to non-prosecution, enabling the Commission to initiate recovery proceedings.
The penalty stems from Reckitt Benckiser’s continued marketing of Strepsils as a medicated solution for sore throats, despite the product being deregistered as a drug after the company acquired it in 2005. The CCP determined that the company misled consumers by implying that Strepsils had medicinal properties, which it no longer legally possessed.
Following a thorough investigation, the CCP found Reckitt Benckiser guilty of violating Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010, which prohibits deceptive marketing practices. The Commission concluded that the company’s conduct not only misled consumers but also harmed the business interests of other undertakings in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
Under Section 40(2)(a) of the Competition Act, 2010, the CCP has the authority to recover penalties through bank account attachments when companies fail to comply with its orders.
This case underscores the CCP’s commitment to ensuring fair competition and truthful advertising in Pakistan’s markets. It also serves as a warning to other companies against engaging in misleading promotions that can distort consumer choices and market dynamics.