Mandatory
Standards for Products and Services in Health, Food Sector on Anvil
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Government has taken number of initiatives for the protection of the interests
of consumers. Very soon services and products in the area of health, food etc.
shall have to follow mandatory quality standards. Precious metal like Gold and
silvers shall have to wear hallmarking for the larger interests of consumers.
New Bureau of Indian Standards Act has been enacted for this purpose and rules
are being framed. This was announced by Ram Vilas Paswan,
Minister of Consumer Affair, Food & Public
Distribution while addressing Regional Editors’ Conference in Chandigarh on 18
October. Mr. Paswan said his ministry is also working
on new Consumer Protection Act which will have more teeth to protect the
interests of consumers. An authority has been proposed under the Act to take suo motto action if product and services are not up to the
standard. The Minister said charging over MRP is unfair trade practice and
expressed hope that the new Consumer Protection Act will effectively check
that.
Regarding misleading advertisements, Mr. Paswan said effective provisions have been proposed in the
new Consumer Protection Act. The Act will enable people to file complains in
Consumers Courts online from any place in the country and it will ensure time
bound admission of their complaints in the courts.
Highlighting
reforms initiated in Public Distribution System, the Minister Paswan said that so far 100 percent digitization of ration
card has been completed and about 70 percent cards have been linked with Aadhar Cards to make the system more transparent and leak
proof. The Union Minister said that at present more than 81 crore people are
getting subsidized food grains i.e .Rs. 2/kg wheat and 3/kg rice under National Food Security
Act and very soon beneficiaries from across the nation except Tamil Nadu will
get food grains as Kerala has also agreed to implement the Act next month.