CHAPTER I: PRELIMINARY 1. Short title, extent, commencement and applications (1) This Act may be called the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. (2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different States and for different provisions of this Act. (4) Save as otherwise expressly provided by the Central Government by notifications, this Act shall apply to all goods and services. 2. Definitions (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 1[(a) appropriate laboratory means a laboratory or organisation- (i) recognised by the Central Government; (ii) recognised by a State Government, subject to such guidelines as may be prescribed by the Central Government in this behalf; or (iii) any such laboratory or organisation established by or under any law for the time-being in force, ...