Consumer rights and the law

Sustainability links production and consumption. Green marketing offers products that are kinder to nature, create less waste and save resources.

Consumer education and protection empower consumers against clever, deceptive market forces, and help them understand laws and policies.

The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 gave consumers six rights: four basic ones (safety, information, choice, being heard) plus redressal and consumer education. It gives simple, speedy and inexpensive redressal, and compensation for loss or injury caused by a maker's negligence. It covers all goods and services unless the government says otherwise.

The six rights:

• Safety: protection from hazardous goods and services.
• Information: about quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price.
• Choice: access to varied goods at competitive prices.
• To be heard: consumers' interests are considered, and represented in forums.
• Redressal: a fair settlement and compensation.
• Consumer education: the knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replaced the 1986 Act. It added a central regulator, strict penalties for misleading advertisements, and rules for e-commerce and online service providers. Six rights: safe, informed, free to choose, heard, redressed, educated.