The Legal Metrology Department (LMD) has slapped hefty penalty of Rs 1.5 lakh on a flour mill manufacturer for distributing underweight animal feed across markets in Srinagar.
According to LMD, the officials of the department during a routine inspection found discrepancies in the weight of packaged goods labelled as 25 kg with some packs falling short by 400g.
The department took immediate action under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 by seizing all underweight stocks.
The manufacturer while acknowledging the lapse provided a written undertaking to recall all such products from the market.
Speaking regarding the action, Anuradha Gupta, Controller Legal Metrology stated that “Consumers trust the labels on their goods and it’s our duty to ensure that the trust isn’t broken". She emphasized on zero-tolerance against errant manufacturers and has directed field officers to take strict action against violators.
Meanwhile, consumers were also advised to stay vigilant to check the declared weights and use certified weighing machines available with the sellers to confirm accuracy at the time of purchase. In case of any complaint or non-cooperation by the traders, they have been asked to lodge their complaints with the department.
The department further urged all manufacturers and traders to comply strictly with legal standards or face penalties and legal consequences.