Seminar on Food Adulteration & Consumer Safety Act 2019

On 6^th August 2022 two seminars has been conducted on Food Adulteration & Consumer Safety Act 2019 at Menkapur Krishna Prasad Uccha Vidyalaya ( H. S.) of Datan I Block and Keshrambha Vidyasagar Vidyabhavan ( H. S.) of Datan II Block of Paschim Medinipur district, WB. The seminars have been initiated by the Department of Consumer & Fair Business Practices, Govt. of West Bengal and have been organized by Amjam Radhamadhab Social Welfare Society (ARMSWS). The seminars have been supported by Mukti.

120 students from classes X to XII of both the schools participated in the said program with utmost zeal and curiosity and the program has been enriching and inspiring for all the participants.

The presence of the Deputy Director & Consumer Welfare Officer of the Dept concerned along with the Secretary & President of the Implementing Organization, Headmaster, President & Members of the Managing Committee, Teaching & Non-teaching Staff of the concerned Schools made the occasion successful in the proper sense of the term.

The students have been provided detailed knowledge on food “Adulterant” and the act to protect the consumers from food adulterants.

“Adulterant” means any material which is or could be employed for making the food unsafe or sub-standard or misbranded or containing extraneous matter.

Food is declared adulterated if:

• A substance is added which depreciates or injuriously affects it.
• Cheaper or inferior substances are substituted wholly or in part.
• Any valuable or necessary constituent has been wholly or in part abstracted.
• It is an imitation.
• It is colored or otherwise treated, to improve its appearance or if it contains any added substance injurious to health.
• For whatever reasons its quality is below the Standard
• Adulterated food is dangerous because it may be toxic and can affect health and it could deprive nutrients essential for proper growth and development.

The new Consumer Protection Act was passed by Parliament in 2019. It came into force in July 2020 and replaced the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

• Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is a law to protect the interests of consumers. This Act provides safety to consumers regarding defective products, dissatisfactory services, and unfair trade practices.
• The basic aim of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is to save the rights of the consumers by establishing authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers’ disputes.