The Hindu Business Line : Changes to Consumer Protection Act soon

Inaugurating a seminar on Counterfeit, Spurious goods and Contraband Goods - Preventive and Remedial Issues, organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) here, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Mr L. Mansingh, said: "The Department of Consumer Affairs is waiting for the reports of various working groups set up to advice changes in the Consumer Protection Act so that the menace of spurious and contraband products is eliminated."

He said the Government was also analysing various laws on the subject that prevail in the UK so that an effective legal mechanism was developed in India for consumers to get compensation in case of cheating.

Mr Mansingh, however, did not specify any particular time frame as to when the new legal system will be put place.

Estimating the market for spurious products in various sectors, Mr Mansingh said in the pharmaceutical sector its share was around 40 per cent and in the IT sector it is around 25 per cent.

He said his department would also launch an awareness campaign to teach consumers as to what they should look out for while purchasing goods. He said, "If the consumers observe certain cautions at the time of purchase, 80-90 per cent of the problem of purchase of spurious goods would be curtailed."

He said that the new legal system would take care of the rights of consumers as purchasers not only of goods but also of services.

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Changes to Consumer Protection Act soon