Consumer Protection Bill aims to safeguard consumer interest

With misleading advertisements attracting penalties under the Consumer Protection Bill that was passed on Tuesday in Lok Sabha, advertising sector watchdog ASCI has hailed the development that aims to safeguard consumer interest. The Consumer Protection Bill 2018 provides for protection of interests of consumers and setting up of authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumer disputes.

The bill, which will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was passed in the lower house after all the amendments moved by the opposition were negated. The bill will now go to Rajya Sabha for passage, where it was not passed in December last year and had lapsed.

Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the bill proposes stringent action in case of misleading advertisements against the advertiser but not against the media through which advertisement is being publicised. "This is a great development in favour of consumers and ASCI welcomes the passing of the new Consumer Protection Bill. Protection of consumers' interest is also ASCIs core mission," Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) Chairman D Shivakumar said.

"As an expert body dealing with complaints pertaining to misleading advertisements, ASCI has been working closely with the Department of Consumer Affairs. Complaints being received on the grievances against misleading advertisements (GAMA) portal is being examined by ASCI since the launch of the GAMA portal. We expect this co-regulation model to be strengthened further as per recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee," he added..