new delhi fakes are hitting consumers and government where it hurts a new report says the government may be losing rs 15000 crore annually to illegal activities related to counterfeit fake spurious and contraband products a sum finance minister chidambaram might have found very handy in managing his houseindustry may be losing rs 30000 crore a year consumers could be damaging not just equipment but health at their worst unsafe food products fake medicines or adulterated oil could be fatal a 20member working group set up in january 2004 has just given its report to the union consumer affairs ministrytaking a sweeping look at everything from gold cosmetics and drugs to currency automotive parts and more the panel has tried to catalogue losses and methods suggesting joint action by different wings of government an independent national consumer protection authority patterned on the us consumer products safety commission and federal trade commission and a comprehensive integrated law with a clearcut demarcation of responsibilitiesfor instance market researchers ac nielsen say 1030 of cosmetics toiletries and packaged food arent genuine pirated audio and video cds have almost acquired household industry status an estimated 61 of computer software sold in the market is pirated petroleum adulteration is worth over rs 15000 crore nearly 90 of gold jewellery tested was of much less caratage than claimed on an average by 11 this could mean a hit of about rs 6000 crore a yearthe list just goes on imitation products may sell without an isi mark or with a fake isi mark on anything from lpg cylinders food colours pressure stoves clinical thermometers packaged drinking water and electrical appliances this isnt just cheating its dangerousand its everywhere the counterfeit automotive parts business is worth rs 2000 crore a year this cuts through to watches where 65 of the market is unorganised fastmoving consumer goods which may ape popular brands with a slight change in name or spelling head and showers for head and shoulders liril as lyril no area has been left untouched it could be anything from branded apparel to shoes popular fiction spurious seeds and even pathological labs