In view of the increase in complaints relating to packaged commodities during the ongoing festival season, Delhi government has stepped up enforcement activities and constituted 20 special teams to check malpractices and sale of commodities in violation of rules.
The Commissioner of Food Supplies and Consumer affairs S S Yadav said that as per the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011, each pack of commodity must prominently contain the name and address of the manufacturers and packers.
For imported packaged commodity, the package must contain the name and address of the importer.
"Common or generic name of the commodity contained in the package along with the net quantity of the commodity and retail sale price of the package should be mentioned. Month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or pre-packaged or imported has to be also mentioned," Yadav said.
Yadav said that any violation of the above requirement may lead to prosecution under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
He said that each measuring instrument and weight must be certified by the Department.
"People must ensure while buying commodities that the weighing scales, dispenser machines and other measuring instruments are certified and certificate is prominently displayed in the business premises. Violation of these provisions is an offence punishable under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009," Yadav said.
Yadav said that special teams constituted by the Department have inspected 1825 premises in last one month and have prosecuted 731 violators.
431 traders have been prosecuted during this period for selling packaged commodities in violation of the Packaged Commodity Rules, 2011.
While 300 traders have been prosecuted for using uncertified weights and measures while selling various commodities, the department has also realized monitory penalty of Rs 21.73 lakh in last one month from the violators besides filing cases in the concerned courts for prosecuting the offenders.
"Action against such malpractices will continue. We appeal to the consumers to be vigilant while buying various items and bring any malpractices to the notice of the Department," Yadav added.
