By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, DEC 11, 2020: THE nodal department for consumer protection, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), said they have taken several measures for protection of the interests and rights of the consumers, including establishing a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).

The CCPA has been established to "regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practice and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumer as a class," a release from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said on Thursday.

DoCA said they had received reports that most honey brands were adulterated with sugar syrup and had referred this matter to the CCPA. "This is a serious matter as it will compromise our health in the troubled times of COVID-19 and add to the risk of COVID-19," they said.

The CCPA did a preliminary examination and referred the matter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the food regulator, to take appropriate action. They also extended their cooperation to the FSSAI in investigation for taking class action under section 10 of the new Consumer Protection Act 2019.

The Department also resolved the incident of a 40-year-old man who set himself on fire in a Rohini mall and got burn injuries after mobile phone service centre allegedly refused to replace a phone he had bought for his niece, a 12th class school student for her online classes. DoCA took up the matter with the mobile company and the victims was compensated with Rs 1,00,000 and a new handset.

The Consumer Affairs Department also stepped in when they found that some e-commerce entities were violating the mandatory requirement of declaration of information of the product on their platforms. Therefore, notices have been issued to various e-commerce entities for non-compliances.