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| CII launches helpline to deal with counterfeit products |
| BS Reporter / Mumbai May 23, 2009, 01:13 IST |
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In a first-of-its-kind initiative the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has launched a helpline to deal with counterfeit (spurious) and contraband products.
The CII Helpline would facilitate consumers to register complaints of any counterfeit, contraband or spurious products at a 24x7 helpline no 022 – 24974525. The number is currently only for Mumbai.
CII would ensure that vigilant consumers can log their complaints whenever they notice any counterfeit or spurious products in the market. CII would then take up these complaints with the concerned government department and also with the members whose name has been used or product duplicated or tampered with.
“About 5 per cent to 7 per cent of the world trade is in counterfeit and contraband goods and it has become necessary that industry should protect and manage its supply and value chain,” said M Dwivedi, chief commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone I, while addressing a conference on Counterfeit and Contraband Products organised by CII in Mumbai today.
For the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, “The loss on account of counterfeits is 2 per cent to 6 per cent of our turnover,” said Prasad Pradhan, convenor, CII FMCG Panel and Head - corporate communications, Hindustan Unilever.
In 2008, the police have registered 16 cases and seized spurious goods worth Rs 6.78 crore, against 11 cases and Rs 2.32 crore in 2006. “There is an increase in the use of counterfeits and contrabands,” said Punjabrao Ugale, deputy commissioner of Police – STF, Mumbai.
S D Chaudhari, Joint Commissioner Food and Drugs Administration Greater Mumbai, said: “Industry should cooperate with the regulatory authorities and lodge complaints in order to enable them to book cases and ensure immediate action to contain spurious goods.”
Though there is no direct provision in the Standards of Weights and Measures Act or Packaged Commodities Act to deal with counterfeit and spurious products, “there are mandatory declarations to be made under Rule 6 of the Act, which can be used to contain this menace”, said Ankush Dhanvijay, IPS, Controller of Legal Metrology, Government of Maharashtra. He further called upon the industry to make representation to the government to include provisions on counterfeit and contraband goods in the proposed new Standards of Weights & Measures Act which is under consideration of the government.
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