Ref: ER/Press/2006/Lab.4/VS/2005

In pursuance of a recommendation made by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department of the Government of Gujarat, in exercise of the powers conferred under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, has issued a notification on 23 January 2006, recognising the Laboratory set up by Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) within its premises as an appropriate laboratory for two years.

The recognition has come for comparative testing of food products and electrical appliances, which include the safety of household and similar electrical appliances, wiring accessories (switches and sockets), electric lamps (GLS and fluorescent) and LPG stoves.

A similar process is on also for the recognition of the laboratory as an appropriate laboratory for the comparative testing of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.

The significance of the recognition as an appropriate laboratory lies in the fact that when a consumer has a complaint about defective goods and unsafe products, the CERC laboratory’s certificate to that effect will be admissible in any consumer court.

Also consumers can approach CERC with complaints and its laboratory can test the products and admit a case in a consumer court on behalf of the consumers. In such cases, CERC will take the responsibility of sending scientists to the court on behalf of consumers to testify the validity of the certificate.

CERC will also be able to test products proactively and, if found unsafe, it can go to court for the recall of such products from the market.

For the testing of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and energy consumption of electrical appliances, since the BIS has expressed its inability to make a technical assessment and recommendation, CERC will approach other competent authorities for an assessment. CERC will thereafter approach the Government of Gujarat for recognition of these laboratories

 

Date : 04/02/2006                                    Pritee Shah
Place: Ahmedabad                                    Editor                                                                                                                     Insight-The Consumer Magazine

 

Opinions, test results and research findings issued through this Press Release cannot be used in any form directly or indirectly for advertising, promotional or commercial purpose.

CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE
“Suraksha Sankool”, Thaltej, Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Highway,
Ahmedabad-380 054 (INDIA)
Phone : 079 - 7489945-46, Fax : 079 - 7489947,
E-mail: cerc@cercindia.org, cercindia@gmail.com, Web Site: http://www.cercindia.org