(a) Give five reasons why consumers need protection.
(b) Explain five means by which consumers can be protected
Explanation
(a) Consumers need to be protected because of the following reasons:
(i) Misleading advertisements
(ii) Incorrect weights and measures
(iii) Creation of artificial shortages through hoarding to make huge profits. (Exploitation)
(iv) Consumers need to be educated on hire purchase laws and other such laws
(v) Poor quality/sub-stands finished goods turned out as a result of inferior quality raw materials used in bringing about production.
(vi) The sale of expired or harmful food items/drugs prepared under unhygienic conditions.
(vii) If instructions or directions of use are not given, consumers can make wrong use of manufactured items and suffer injuries /losses in the end e.g tap, electrical items etc.
(b) Consumers can be protected through the following means
(i) Formation of consumer associations to test whether items are of good quality or not and to make recommendations.
(ii) There should be the enactment of the foods and drugs Act to see to it that all consumable items have expiry dates. Regular inspection of manufacturing places should be carried out to ensure that items are produced under hygienic conditions
(iii) Price control measures should be put in place to curb any arbitrary price increases.
(iv) Formation of Standard Board or Quality Control Board to test the quality of every item before allowing its introduction to the market.
(v) There should also be an efficient hire Purchase Act to prevent repossession after payment of the purchase price.
(vi) Advertising organization/board should be set up to censor all adverts before being shown on the screens.
(vii) Rent Edict/Relict Tribune should be on its toes to ensure that tenants are not cheated. There should also be the sales of goods Act to ensure that quality goods are sold to consumers.
(viii) There should be a weight and measures Act to ensure that goods are sold at the right quantity, as well as a trade description Act to ensure correct labelling of the goods.