The Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad is celebrating its 25 years of its service to the country this week. During the Silver Jubilee Week, an Open House is organised on August 23, 2003. The Open House will offer the people an opportunity to acquaint themselves not only with the country’s largest consumer organisation but also its comparative testing laboratory for consumer products, the only one of its kind in Asia, barring Japan.

The laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment tests consumer products as per Indian Standards and nationally publicises the findings along with brand names for consumer information and empowerment.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Weights and Measures Department, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) will organise exhibition-cum-demonstration stalls on the CERC campus for creating consumer awareness among the visitors.

CERC has also organised a children’s painting competition for three age groups between 6 and 14 years. Students from several city schools are expected to participate in the competition. The themes for the three age groups are : ‘Save Water’, ‘A Healthy Meal/Save Environment’ and ‘Ads That Mislead You’.

Earlier this week, Surendra Patel, Chairman, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), inaugurated the CERC Silver Jubilee celebrations by planting saplings on the campus along with other dignitaries.