Standards stipulated for manufacture and sale of saffron robes

The Ministry of Buddhasasana by a Gazette Notification of August 26 has stipulated standards for manufacture and sale of saffron robes worn by Buddhist monks and for marketing Atapirikara in the local market, stated a media release by the Buddhasasana Ministry, yesterday.

The Gazette Notification in terms of section 12:1 of the Consumer Protection Authority Act No.9 of 2003, in this regard, was published by the Chairman of the Authority in Gazette Extraordinary No.1407/23 of August 26, 2005. The provisions stipulated come into effect from January 1, next year.

The relevant Gazette Notification stipulates the eight items that have to be included in the Atapirikara, their standards and how they should be packed and labelled. It also stipulates the size, colour, material and tailoring of the saffron robe worn by Buddhist monks, in terms of the recommendations of the Buddhasasana Presidential Commission.

Under the Gazette Notification, the traders of yellow robes worn by Buddhist monks and traders of Atapirikara are required to register themselves with the Ministry of Buddhasasana from where the specimen forms are now available to apply for registration.

Traders who market saffron robes and Atapirikara without registration under the Buddhasasana Ministry after December 31 this year, will be dealt with under the Consumer Protection Act, announced the media release.