CCPA holds meeting on consumer protection in diamond industry

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) conducted a stakeholder consultation meeting to address key issues in the diamond industry sector on November 19, 2024.

The event focused on the need for standardised terminology and better disclosure practices, which is chaired by Nidhi Khare, Chief Commissioner of CCPA along with industry stakeholders and experts to ensure greater transparency and consumer protection, said the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

The program highlighted challenges arising from the lack of uniform terminology and inadequate disclosures, particularly in differentiating between natural and lab-grown diamonds. Such gaps have led to consumer confusion and the potential for misleading practices in the diamond market.

The meeting also reviewed several existing legal and regulatory frameworks, including BIS Standards, Legal Metrology Act 2009, and Consumer Protection Act, 2019, to address these issues:

Participants at the consultation proposed several measures to improve consumer protection; mandatory labeling and certification, prohibition of misleading terms, and accreditation of testing labs.

The consultation emphasized the need for ethical marketing practices and consistent terminology to protect consumers. The CCPA aims to release a comprehensive framework soon, focusing on accountability, transparency, and consumer-centric practices in the diamond sector.