The government, in a bid to protect consumers’ interest in the aftermath of the Maggi fiasco, is planning to create an authority to initiate mass product recall, said Union Food and Consumers Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday.

The proposed authority is expected to intervene on behalf of individual consumers and file class-action against manufacturers of faulty or defective products.

Speaking to reporters here after reviewing Food Corporation of India's operations, Paswan said the government will also crack down on misleading advertisements that take consumers for a ride.

The Centre, he said, is keen on strengthening the consumer courts that are in a bad shape.

He further said instructions have been issued to create adequate infrastructure for consumer courts across the country, make timely appointments and dispose of cases periodically. The government has made it mandatory for hallmarking of jewellery products.

Paswan further said that amendments to the Consumer Protection Act were likely to be introduced in the next session of Parliament.

Amendments to Act

The Consumer Protection Act is old and needs to be amended to include the e-commerce and digital business, he added.

Further, Paswan said the country has adequate foodgrain stocks to deal with any eventuality of a deficit monsoon and that there was no cause for concern.

However, in a bid to deal with the scarcity of fruits and vegetables during the monsoon months from July to September, the Food Ministry has convened a meeting of officials from the States on July 7 to discuss various measures including stock limits to ensure supplies and prevent hoarding.

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