Question : Central Consumer Protection Authority

(a) whether the Government is planning to constitute a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA);
(b) if so, the details thereof and the date on which this body will be constituted;
(c) whether the rules relating to the composition and functioning of the CCPA have been finalised;
(d) if so, the persons who will be the members of this Authority and the details of proposed functioning of CCPA;
(e) whether CCPA will have judicial powers to persecute the organisations which are indulging in anti-consumer activities and if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether there will be a provision of invoking legal suit to recall an entire batch of faulty products based on a single complaint; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

(a) to (d) : The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides for establishment of an executive agency to be called the “Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)” to deal with matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements. The rules relating to composition and functioning of the CCPA were put on the website of the Department inviting comments from the various stakeholders. The rules have not yet been finalised.
(e) to (g) : Under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA will be empowered to conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute prosecution, order recall of unsafe goods and services, order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements and can also impose penalties on manufacturers, endorsers, publishers of misleading advertisements.
*****