JAMMU: In a continued effort to ensure strict compliance with the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, the Legal Metrology Department has intensified its enforcement activities. As part of the drive, the Deputy Controller Consumer Protection imposed penalties on two firms, recovering a total compounding fee of ₹1.75 lakh.

A Delhi-based hardware company was penalized ₹1 lakh for affixing stickers to declare mandatory information on pre-packaged hardware items. This practice is a clear violation of Legal Metrology norms, which mandate that all essential declarations must be clearly printed on the Principal Display Panel of the packaging and not added later through stickers.

In a separate case, a manufacturer of medical vaporizers was fined ₹75,000 for selling steam inhalers without mentioning the Month and Year of Manufacture-a crucial requirement for consumer protection and product traceability.

Reiterating the department's commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, Controller Rajinder Singh Tara said, "Our priority is to ensure transparency and fairness in the market. Consumers must be informed accurately about the products they purchase. These enforcement drives will continue across all districts to uphold consumer interests."

The department remains committed to carrying out such enforcement actions in the future as well to ensure that consumer protection laws are followed in letter and spirit.