Union Cabinet approves new Consumer Protection Bill

Union Cabinet has approved a new Consumer Protection Bill that seeks to establish an authority to safeguard consumers' rights, has the provisions for penalty and jail terms in case of adulteration and misleading advertisements by companies. 

Official sources said, celebrities endorsing misleading advertisements will also be liable for fine and ban up to three years as per the new bill. 

The Cabinet yesterday approved the introduction of the Consumer



Protection Bill, 2017, which will replace a bill of 2015. In August 2015, the Centre had introduced the Consumer Protection Bill in the Lok Sabha to repeal the 30-year-old Consumer Protection Act of 1986.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently said, that consumer protection is the government's priority. He had said that the stress is being given on consumer empowerment. Mr Modi said strict provisions are being contemplated against misleading advertisements.