Lok Sabha Question No. 470 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-19
Subject: International Conference on Consumer Protection
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, P.R. SUNDARAM, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 470

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2017

## INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION

470. SHRI  DHANANJAY  MAHADIK:  SHRI  ASADUDDIN  OWAISI:  SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA SULE:  DR.  HEENA  VIJAYKUMAR  GAVIT:  DR.  J.  JAYAVARDHAN:  SHRI  P.R. SUNDARAM: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

## Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk/k vkSj lkoZtfud foRrj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  organised  the  First  International  Conference  on  Consumer Protection recently and if so, the details thereof along with the theme of the Conference;
- (b) the number of Indian and International delegates who had attended the conference;
- (c) the main issues discussed in the conference along with the outcome thereof;
- (d) whether the Government will bring in a new law to crack down on misleading advertisements and set up a Central authority to fast track redressal of consumer grievances and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  existing  Consumer  Protection  Act  is  not  sufficient  to  deal  with  such  misleading advertisements,  if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  further  steps  taken  or  being  taken  by  the Government in this regard; and
- (f) the other steps taken by the Government to safeguard the interest of consumers?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c) : Yes,  Madam. An international  conference  on  consumer protection  was  held  on  26-27 October, 2017 in New Delhi in association with UNCTAD having participation from countries in the East,  South and South-East Asia with the theme 'Empowering Consumers in New Markets'. Around 1800 delegates including around 60 foreign delegates participated in the conference. The main issues discussed were  United  Nations Guidelines for Consumer  Protection  and  their Implementation; Stakeholder Participation in Consumer Protection; Protection of Online Consumers; Fostering Consumer Inclusion  in  Financial  Services;  Consumer  Education  and  Empowerment;  and  Special  Challenges  in Protecting  Vulnerable  and  Economically  Disadvantaged  Consumers.  The  Conference  inter-alia  drew conclusions such as - comprehensive implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection  as  a  priority  for  Governments  and  stakeholders  in  ensuring  more  effective  and  bettercoordinated  protection  efforts  in  all  countries  and  across  all  areas  of  commerce;  Protection  of consumers'  rights  in  the  digital  context  as  a  key  for  a  sustainable  and  inclusive  development  of  ecommerce, which also needs to address cross-border cooperation and enforcement etc.

(d) to (f) : Under the provisions of the existing Consumer Protection Act, 1986, a Consumer Forum will  take action only after a complaint is filed by a consumer. The Government has already introduced the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015 in Parliament which seeks to establish an executive agency to be known as the Central Consumer Protection Authority which would look into matters relating to violation of  rights  of  consumers,  unfair  trade  practices  and  false  or  misleading  advertisements  which  are prejudicial to the interests of public  and consumers and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.

*****