MAM
Lok Sabha passes Consumer Protection Bill 2019
MUMBAI: The Lok Sabha has passed the Consumer Protection Bill 2019 after due consideration and discussion. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said that the bill aims at protecting the interests of consumers by establishing authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers’ dispute.
Moving the bill, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Raosaheb Patil Danve said it aims to simplify a number of rules. Danve said consumers do not get quick redressal of their complaints and with the passage of the bill, consumers will be able to get speedy justice. He said the government aims to simplify the entire process of redressal of consumer grievances.
Under the bill, there is provision for central government to set up a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers and will be empowered to investigate, recall, refund and impose penalties. It will regulate matters related to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements. There is also a provision for class action law suit for ensuring that rights of consumers are not infringed upon. The authority will have power to impose a penalty on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to Rs 10 lakh rupees and imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement.
Commenting on the development, Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) chairman D Shivakumar said, "This is a great development in favour of consumers and ASCI welcomes the passing of the new Consumer Protection Bill. Protection of consumers’ interest is also ASCI’s core mission. As an expert body dealing with complaints pertaining to misleading advertisements, ASCI has been working closely with the Department of Consumer Affairs. Complaints being received on the GAMA portal are being examined by ASCI since the launch of the GAMA portal. We expect this co-regulation model to be strengthened further as per recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee."
Salient features of the bill
1. Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): Executive agency to provide relief to a class of consumers. The CCPA will be empowered to-
Conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints /prosecution
Order recall of unsafe goods and services
Order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements
Impose penalties on manufactures /endorsers /publishers of misleading advertisements
2. Simplified dispute resolution process
i) Pecuniary jurisdiction enhanced to-
District Commission –Up to Rs 1 crore
State Commission- Between Rs 1 crore and Rs 10 crore
National Commission –Above Rs 10 crore
ii) Deemed admissibility after 21 days of filing
iii) Empowerment of consumer commission to enforce their orders
iv) Appeals only on question of law after second stage
v) Ease of approaching consumer commission
Filing from place of residence
E-filing
Video-conferencing for hearing
3. Mediation
An Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism
Reference to mediation by consumer forum wherever scope for early settlement exists and parties agree for it.
Mediation cells to be attached to consumer forum
No appeal against settlement through mediation
4. Product liability
A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller to be responsible to compensate for injury or damage caused by defective product or deficiency in services
The basis for product liability action will be:
Manufacturing defect
Design defect
Deviation from manufacturing specifications
Not conforming to express warranty
Failing to contain adequate instruction for correct use
Services provided arefaulty, imperfect or deficient
New bill – benefit to consumers
Presently consumers only have a single point of access to justice, which is time consuming. Additional swift executive remedies are proposed in the bill through Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
Deterrent punishment to check misleading advertisements and adulteration of products
Product liability provision to deter manufacturers and service providers from delivering defective products or deficient services
Ease of approaching consumer commission and simplification of adjudication process
Scope for early disposal of cases through mediation
Provision for rules for new age consumer issues: e-commerce & direct selling
Brands
Reliance Consumer Products partners with Fazer for premium chocolates in India
MoU signed during Finnish President’s visit to leverage RCPL’s distribution for Fazer brands.
MUMBAI: Reliance just added Finnish chocolate to its sweet spot because when the land of saunas meets the land of spices, the result is a premium bar that melts borders. Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Finnish food company Fazer to manufacture, market and distribute Fazer’s premium branded chocolates across India. The agreement was formalised during Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s state visit to India on 7 March 2026.
The long-term strategic partnership combines Fazer’s heritage recipes, quality standards and global chocolate expertise with RCPL’s massive distribution network reaching nearly three million retail outlets nationwide. The collaboration aims to introduce Fazer’s well-known premium products to Indian consumers while strengthening business ties between the two nations.
Reliance Consumer Products Limited director T. Krishnakumar said, “By combining Fazer’s globally trusted brands and manufacturing excellence with RCPL’s local production capabilities, robust distribution network and deep consumer insights, we are well positioned to bring world-class products to Indian consumers and elevate the overall category experience.”
Fazer president and CEO Christoph Vitzthum added, “With RCPL handling commercialisation and distribution in India, we can establish a premium position in the chocolate market and create a foundation for a broader nationwide rollout.”
Since its launch in 2022, RCPL has steadily expanded in the confectionery segment by reviving legacy Indian brands such as Ravalgaon, Toffeeman, Pan Pasand and Lotus Chocolate Company. Fazer, a major player in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and China with exports to over 40 countries, sees India’s fast-growing chocolate market as a key opportunity.
In a country where chocolate is no longer just a treat but a growing daily indulgence, this tie-up isn’t just about bars, it’s about blending Nordic precision with Indian scale to sweeten the next chapter of the confectionery story.
