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ion of Basic Needs

Right to Safety

Right to be Informed

Right to Choose

Right to be Heard

Right to Redress

Right to Consumer Education

Right to Healthy & Sustainable Environment

It acted as a tool for the nations to support consumer protection. At the international level this has become the foundation for consumer movement. Today 240 organizations from over 100 countries has come up and united under a single body named Consumers International.

CONSUMERISM IN INDIA

In India the movement was initiated as a ‘social force’ to safeguard and encourage the interests of the consumers. But the Consumer Protection Act in 1986 gave it a legal authority with the declaration of six consumer rights. Separate government departments of consumer affairs were set up and three tier system of consumer courts at national, state and district levels. The movement has already progressed a lot in spreading consumer awareness but is still facing some of the problems such as:

The consumer redressal system is becoming difficult, expensive and time-consuming.

Evidence is not easy to gather as cash memos are not issued for most of the purchases.

The existing laws are not very clear about the issue of compensation to consumers injured by defective products.

As codified under the Indian Laws the Consumers have the following

Rights:

Right to Safety—to protect against hazardous goods

Right to be Informed—about price, quality, purity

Right to choose—access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices.

Right to be Heard—consumers interest and welfare must be taken care of

Right to seek Redress—protection against unfair trade practices and settling genuine grievances.

6. Right to Consumer Education.—Knowledge about goods and issues related to consumers.

CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 1986 (COPRA)

As stated earlier, Consumer Protection Act was enacted so as to have a single comprehensive law for the protection of the interest of consumers and for the creation of special courts to solve the consumer disputes speedily and inexpensive manner. Salient features of the Act are as follows:

Declaration of Six Consumer Rights.

Setting up of a separate Department of Consumer Affairs in Central and State Governments.

Setting up of a three tier consumer courts for deciding the consumer disputes, namely

- National Commission at national level

- State Commission at State level

- District Forums at district level

Organizations providing certification of standardization in India

Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS): Earlier known as Indian Standards Institution (ISI), issues quality mark for industrial goods.

Directorate of Marketing and Intelligence (DMI) issues Agmark for the agricultural goods like honey, spices etc.

Hallmark, Woolmark are other important standards adopted in India

At international level International Standardization Organization (ISO) provide a common reference standard for various goods and services.

Codex Alimentarius Commission develops international fo