Centre to amend Consumer Protection Act

New Delhi, July 30 : The Centre will soon introduce a bill to protect the interests of the consumers in the areas of weights and measures.

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday at the 24th meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council in New Delhi that the Comprehensive Legal Metrology Bill will replace the present weight and measure act.

"A National Consumer Protection Authority will also be set up to take suo-moto action against the hazardous consumer items and service providers," the Minister said.

Pawar said that a three-tier quasi- judicial machinery is working in the country, to provide speedy justice to the consumers.

He further said that it is high time that consumer's protection forums are set up at every district headquarters to protect the interest of consumers in rural areas and an amount of about two hundred crore rupees have been earmarked for the purpose.

Representatives from all States and Union Territories including several ministers participated in the day-long deliberations.

ANI