Selling Counterfeit Items Especially Those Related To Safety, An Offence

The central government announced the launch of a nationwide campaign against selling counterfeit and spurious items that violate Quality Control Orders as it's a cognizable offense under the BIS Act.

Such items as helmets, pressure cookers, and cooking gas cylinders pose a risk to the consumers and are dangerous. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution announced that violating the compulsory standards is categorized as a cognizable offense under section 29 (4) of the BIS Act.

Section 2(47) of the act mentions the sale, promotion, use, or supply of any item which adopts any unfair means or deceptive practice by false representation of standard, quality, quantity, grade, composition, style, or model. The CCPA took suo moto cognizance of the matter and announced a country-wide campaign against such items.

It has also written to the Director-General of BIS to urgently take up the issue and notify all regional branches to conduct market surveys and immediate actions.

Secretary of Consumer Affairs Leena Nandan said in a media conference "We have written to Chief Secretaries of all states & UTs to undertake an enforcement drive, in coordination with District Collectors and Commissioners of Police to prevent sale and manufacture of goods violating compulsory standards".

She also said that under section 16 of the CP Act, District Collectors of all districts have been directed to take action on unfair trade practices and submit a report on it within three months.

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