PepsiCo, BCCI to sell mineral water at uniform prices: Ram Vilas Paswan
NEW DELHI: Beverage giant PepsiCo and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have decided to sell packaged mineral water at uniform prices, said minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday.
PepsiCo’s mineral water brand Aquafina will be sold at the same price across the country, while BCCI has decided that prices of packaged mineral water, across all brands, will not be higher than MRP at its stadiums.
“We have had one achievement —Pepsico’s Aquafina will be sold at one price. BCCI has also issued a circular that all stadiums will sell packaged water at one price. Prices (of water) will be one inside and outside the stadium,” said Paswan at a press briefing.
“Dual MRP is against law. It can attract legal action, and it is happening through National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).” Regarding cinema halls and restaurants charging higher than MRP, Paswan said there can be two solutions — the consumer be made more aware or the consumer courts approached.
Paswan has earlier said charging higher than MRP or dual MRP is against the law, and is counted as an unfair trade practice. The union minister has urged people to register complaints through consumer courts or the national consumer helplines against those charging more than maximum retail price.
"Charging above MRP is violation of the law. But we still see at airports, multiplex and hotels, that packaged water is sold at more than the MRP. This needs to be stopped,” he had said last year.
While the department is working on the matter, and going after those who are selling products at prices more than their MRP, Paswan has recently ruled out the possibility of a separate law to regulate MRP of packaged products.
PepsiCo’s mineral water brand Aquafina will be sold at the same price across the country, while BCCI has decided that prices of packaged mineral water, across all brands, will not be higher than MRP at its stadiums.
“We have had one achievement —Pepsico’s Aquafina will be sold at one price. BCCI has also issued a circular that all stadiums will sell packaged water at one price. Prices (of water) will be one inside and outside the stadium,” said Paswan at a press briefing.
“Dual MRP is against law. It can attract legal action, and it is happening through National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).” Regarding cinema halls and restaurants charging higher than MRP, Paswan said there can be two solutions — the consumer be made more aware or the consumer courts approached.
Paswan has earlier said charging higher than MRP or dual MRP is against the law, and is counted as an unfair trade practice. The union minister has urged people to register complaints through consumer courts or the national consumer helplines against those charging more than maximum retail price.
"Charging above MRP is violation of the law. But we still see at airports, multiplex and hotels, that packaged water is sold at more than the MRP. This needs to be stopped,” he had said last year.
While the department is working on the matter, and going after those who are selling products at prices more than their MRP, Paswan has recently ruled out the possibility of a separate law to regulate MRP of packaged products.
