The State of Himachal Pradesh depends upon all the Essential Commodities from Neighboring States of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi for its requirement. The price fluctuation in the wholesale market of the neighboring States directly influences the wholesale and retail prices in the Pradesh. The State Government has practically no control over the prevailing prices at the source. However, the Government has been exercising control over the availability and prices of Essential Commodities in the open market by enforcing various statutory provisions under the following Acts and Control Orders:-

• The Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
• The Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
• H.P. Specified Essential Commodities (Regulation of Distribution) Order, 2019.
• H.P. Trade Articles (Licensing and Control) Order, 1981.
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000.
• H.P. Bricks (Control) Act, 1969.
• H.P. Bricks (Control) Order, 1970.
• Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Prevention of Mal-Practices in Supply and Distribution)Order,2005.
• Kerosene (restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993.
• The Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
• H.P. Consumer Protection Rules, 1998.
• Edible Oil ( Packaging and Regulation) Order, 1998.
• Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2015.
• The Solvent Reffinate and Slop (Acquisition, Sale, Storage and Prevention of use in Automobiles) Order, 2000.
• Naptha (Acquisition, Sale, Storage and Prevention of use in Automobiles) Order, 2000.
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas ( Regulation of Use in Motor Vehicles) Orders, 2001.
• Household Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Orders, 1981.

The brief introduction of the above mentioned Acts and Orders are as under:

1.  THE ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT, 1955:
It is a Central Act to provide, in the interests of the general public, for the control of the production, supply, and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities.

2. THE PREVENTION OF BLACK MARKETING AND MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLIES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT, 1980:
Vide this order the Officer/Official of the Food and Supplies and Consumer Affairs Deptt. are empowered for detention in certain cases for the purpose of prevention of black-marketing and maintenance of supplies of commodities essential to the community/consumers and for the matter connected therewith.

3. H.P. SPECIFIED ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES (REGULATION OF DISTRIBUTION) Order, 2019:
This order lays down the provisions and procedures for distribution of specified commodities to the consumer through the Distribution Card (Ration Card) in the fair price shops, which are regulated under the network of Targeted Public Distribution system.

4.  THE LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (REGULATION AND DISTRIBUTION) ORDER, 2000:
Vide this order, the detailed provisions and procedure for distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas through the network of Public Distribution System is being regulated through licenses/authorization issued to a dealer/oil companies dealing in L.P.G. over and above at a given time. This order enables the Department to exercise check over the stocks of L.P.G. in the State for regulating their equitable distribution on fixed price.

5. THE H.P. BRICKS (CONTROL) ACT, 1969:
Vide this Act, the Govt. has empowered the Officer/Official of the Food and Supplies Deptt. for maintaining or increasing the supply o f Bricks for their equitable distribution and availability at fair price and it may by order notified in the Official Gazetteer, provide for regulating by licenses, permits or otherwise the manufacture, storage distribution, transport, acquisition of disposal of Bricks, for collecting any information or statistics with a view to the regulation of the aforesaid matters, for grant or issue of licenses, permits or other documents and the charging of fee therefore, for controlling the price at which bricks may be bought or sold, for requiring dealers or kin owners to maintain and produce for inspection such accounts and records regarding bricks and to furnish such information relating thereto, as may be specified to in the order.

6. THE H.P. BRICKS (CONTROL) ORDER, 1970:
This order lays down detailed provisions and procedure for obtaining licenses for brick-kilns as also for fixation of sale rate for bricks manufactured by such brick-kilns.

7. THE MOTOR SPIRIT AND HIGH SPEED DIESEL (PREVENTION OF MALPRACTICES IN SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION) ORDER, 2005:
Under this order, the supply of Motor spirit and High Speed Diesel through the network of Public Distribution System is being regularized.

8.  KEROSENE (RESTRICTION ON USE AND FIXATION OF CEILING PRICE ORDER, 1993:
This order lays down the procedure for obtaining the licenses for Kerosene dealers dealing in Kerosene through the network of Public Distribution System.         

9.  CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 1986:
This Act lays down detailed provisions and procedures for redressel of grievances and to provide for better protection of the interests of the consumers and for that purpose to make provisions for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumers, disputes and for matter connected therewith.

10.  H.P. CONSUMER PROTECTION RULES, 1998:
These rules are made under sub clause 2 of clause 30 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Vide these rules, the three-tier system of the consumer forums are defined. Vide this system, the functions, sittings, staff and salary etc. of the Distt. Forum, State Commission and National Commission are clarified.

11.  THE EDIBLE OIL (PACKAGING AND REGULATION) ORDER, 1998:  
This order is strictly enforced by the State Goa, which would minimize contamination, maintain hygienic conditions, check deterioration in quality, ensure correct weight  and provide information in respect of its contents, price and date of manufacture. The State of H.P. has empowered the Officers/Officials of the Food and Supplies Deptt. for implementation of the order.

12. PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (CONTROL) ORDER, 2015:  
This order is mainly meant for the smoothly functioning of the Targeted Public Distribution System in various States. The State of H.P. has already issued H.P. Specified Articles (Regulation of Distribution) Order, 2003. This order lays down the provisions and proceedings for distribution if specified commodities to the consumers through the Distribution Card (ration card) in the fair price shops, which are regulated under the network of Targeted Public Distribution System.

13. The Solvent Reffinate and Slop (Acquisition, Sale, Storage and Prevention of use in Automobiles) Order, 2000:  
This order has been issued by the Govt. of India for the purpose of restriction on sale and use of solvents, reffinates, slops and other products. This order lays down detailed provisions and procedure for obtaining license, for acquire, store or sell solvent, raffinate, slops or their equivalent and other products issued by the State Govt. or the District Magistrate or any other officer authorised by the Central/State Govt. According to this order no person shall either use or help in any manner the user of solvents, raffinated, slops or their equivalent or other products except Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel in any automobile.

14. Naptha (Acquisition, Sale, Storage and Prevention of use in Automobiles) Order, 2000:
This order has been issued by the Govt. of India for the purpose of restriction on sale and use of Naptha. This order lays down detailed provisions and procedure for obtaining license, for acquire, store or sell Naptha issued by the State Govt. or the District Magistrate or any other officer authorised by the State Govt. According to this order no person shall either use or help in any manner the user of Naptha except Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel and/or any other fuel permitted by the Central Govt. in any automobile.

15. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Use in Motor Vehicles)) Order, 2001:
This order has been issued by the Govt. of India for the purpose of acquire, store for sale, supply, fill or distributed auto LPG to a consumer except according to the provisions contained in this order. According to this order no person shall store, supply, sell or dispense auto LPG unless he is auto LPG dispensing dealer. This order enables the Department to check over the acquire, store for sale, supply , fill or distributed auto LPG to a consumers according to the provisions.