Essential Commodities Act 1955 – Burning Issues – Free PDF Download

TWO IMPORTANT ACTS HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC

 WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

• On March 13, the Centre notified an order under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to declare 2 ply and 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks and hand sanitisers as essential commodities till June 30, 2020. It has also issued an advisory under the Legal Metrology Act, so that States can ensure these items are not sold for more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

N95 MASK

• N95 respirator masks can use similar filtration material as surgical masks but usually with more layers and a much tighter fit.
• N95 masks are supposed to fit tightly to the face and block out most particles.

ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT

•  The ECA was enacted in 1955. It has since been used by the Government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of a whole host of commodities it declares ‘essential’ in order to make them available to consumers at fair prices
• Additionally, the government can also fix the maximum retail price (MRP) of any packaged product that it declares an “essential commodity”.

 CONSUMER HELPLINE

Consumers can register complaints in this regard with the National Consumer Helpline 1800-11-4000 or at consumer helpline.gov.in. An offender under the Essential Commodities Act can be punished with imprisonment up to seven years, or a fine, or both.

WHAT IS THE NEED?

• “Masks with retail price of Rs 300 was being sold at Rs 1200 and hand sanitisers worth Rs 40 is being sold at Rs 100. The government has taken a strong decision to curb such unethical trade practices,” the Government official said.

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