By MADHU AGRAWAL
Department of Consumer Affairs should amend the rules whereby it may be compulsory to pack all commodities in true metric-spirit in units of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 gms or mltrs or ltrs or kgs or units only so that consumer may judge comparative prices of a commodity marketed by different companies. Any liberty to pack in units other than suggested ones gives manufacturers cheat consumers through gimmick packaging.
Drug-manufacturers cheat consumers through gimmick packaging by packing commonly advertised medicines like cough-lozenges in eight per strip rather than normal ten because of consumers judge prices per strip without realising a number of lozenges per strip.
It is necessary that suggested metric-system of packaging may be applicable on medicines also unless exemption is sought from the competent authority for dose-wise administration. Many drug-manufacturers have started packing medicine in strips of 15 rather than 10 simply to shoot up the sale, because most chemists sell medicines only in strips, and extra tablets in a strip of 10.
