Government unveils draft National Consumer Policy

The department of consumer affairs is formulating a National Consumer Policy to ensure a structural framework for protection of consumers and their welfare.

The National Consumer Policy aims at ensuring that goods, services and technology are available to the consumers at reasonable prices and at acceptable standards of quality, an official release said.

The draft policy has been formulated after extensive consultations with all stakeholders including government, voluntary consumer organisations and non-governmental organisations, the release said.

"The National Consumer Policy would be based on the principles of empowering consumers, ensuring competition, opening up competition in areas where government is the sole service provider and strengthening VCOs, to collect and disseminate information to consumers," the release said.

The policy seeks to encourage the establishment of internal dispute resolution mechanisms for all manufacturers and service providers, using legislation for enforcement of the rights of consumers, use of Essential Commodities Act for non-market interventions and ensuring harmonization of standards at both national and international levels to promote better choices, it said.

The ultimate aim is to empower consumers to make real choices, enhance consumer welfare through promotion of competition and keep them informed.
 
Consumers would be educated about the products and services they are purchasing and the redressal mechanism available to them even as consumers would be involved in formulating policies by various government departments.
 
The draft National Consumer Policy has been uploaded on the website of the department and comments have been invited from all stakeholders to the draft policy.