Lok Sabha Question No. 4473 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-30
Subject: Sale of Sub-Standard Goods
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4473

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2022

## SALE OF SUB-STANDARD GOODS

## 4473.  SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that markets in the country are flooded with sub-standards goods particularly electrical goods, which are harmful for the consumers;
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  (BIS)  to  check  the  sale  of  sub-standard goods in the country ;
- (c) whether BIS had conducted any raids during the last two years to unearth the sale of sub-standard goods, particularly, electrical goods;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State and Union Territory-wise; and
- (e) the action taken against the traders found guilty by BIS?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री अश्विनी क ु मार चौबे)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE

## CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b) : Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) acts upon the complaints received by it related to sub-standard quality of  BIS certified products,  unauthorized use of  BIS  Standard Mark  and violation of Quality Control Orders.

Complaints related to sub-standard quality of BIS certified products are investigated at the end of complainant and licensee followed by independent testing of complaint sample to establish genuineness of the complaint. Actions such as suspension or cancellation of the license are taken against the licensee if the  complaint  is  found  genuine.  Licensee  is  also  advised  in  such  cases  to  provide  redressal  to  the complainant by way of replacement/repair of the product under complaint.

For  complaints  related  to  unauthorized  use  of  BIS  Standard  Mark  and  violation  of  Quality Control  Orders,  BIS  carries  out  Search  and  Seizure  operation  at  the  premise  of  the  firm.  During  such Search & Seizure, material under contravention is seized followed by launch of prosecution against the offender for violation of BIS Act, 2016.

(c)  &  (d)  :  During  the  years  2020-21  and  2021-22,  BIS  carried  out  211  Search  &  Seizure  operations including  28  related  to  electric  products,  for  unauthorized  use  of  BIS  Standard  Mark  and  Violation  of Quality Control Orders. The State wise and Union Territory - wise details are at Annexure.

- (e) : After successful Search & Seizure operation, BIS files case against the offender in the Court of Law. If firm applies for compounding, then the offence is compounded by the Competent Authority and penalty is imposed in accordance with BIS Act, Rules and Regulations. In 2021-22, 44 cases were filed in Courts and 2 cases were compounded.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (C & D) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4473 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30-03-2022 REGARDING SALE OF SUBSTANDARD GOODS.

| STATE          | TOTAL NUMBER OF SEARCH &SEIZURE CONDUCTED BY BIS   | TOTAL NUMBER OF SEARCH &SEIZURE CONDUCTED BY BIS   | TOTAL NUMBER OF SEARCH &SEIZURE CONDUCTED BY BIS   | TOTAL NUMBER OF SEARCH &SEIZURE CONDUCTED BY BIS   |
|----------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|                | 2020-21                                            | 2020-21                                            | 2021-22                                            | 2021-22                                            |
|                | Other Goods                                        | Electrical Goods                                   | Other Goods                                        | Electrical Goods                                   |
| ANDHRA PRADESH | 1                                                  | -                                                  | 8                                                  | -                                                  |
| ASSAM          | 1                                                  | -                                                  | 2                                                  | -                                                  |
| BIHAR          | 3                                                  | -                                                  | 4                                                  | -                                                  |
| DELHI          | 1                                                  | 2                                                  | 8                                                  | 2                                                  |
| GUJARAT        | 5                                                  | 4                                                  | 29                                                 | 4                                                  |
| HARYANA        | -                                                  | -                                                  | 29                                                 | 3                                                  |
| JAMMU &KASHMIR | 1                                                  | -                                                  | -                                                  | -                                                  |
| JHARKHAND      | 1                                                  | -                                                  | 1                                                  | -                                                  |
| KARNATAKA      | 5                                                  | -                                                  | 11                                                 |                                                    |
| KERALA         | 1                                                  | -                                                  | 4                                                  | 1                                                  |
| MADHYA PRADESH | -                                                  | -                                                  | 3                                                  | -                                                  |
| MAHARASHTRA    | 4                                                  | 3                                                  | 19                                                 | 3                                                  |
| PUNJAB         | 1                                                  | -                                                  | -                                                  | -                                                  |
| RAJASTHAN      | 1                                                  | -                                                  | 5                                                  | -                                                  |
| TAMILNADU      | 3                                                  | -                                                  | 8                                                  | 1                                                  |
| TELANGANA      | 1                                                  | -                                                  | 7                                                  | -                                                  |
| UTTAR PRADESH  | -                                                  | -                                                  | 8                                                  | 2                                                  |
| UTTARAKHAND    | -                                                  | -                                                  | -                                                  | 1                                                  |
| WEST BENGAL    | -                                                  | -                                                  | 10                                                 | -                                                  |
| Total          | 29                                                 | 9                                                  | 156                                                | 17                                                 |
| G. Total       | 38                                                 | 38                                                 | 173                                                | 173                                                |

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