Bermuda's consumer watchdog should be given more teeth, according to a special task force.

This was the main recommendation put forth in the Report of the Consumer Protection Task Force released by the Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Yvette Swan.

Sen. Swan said she was pleased with the report and gave top marks to its authors.

"I know that everyone has spent many hours of their time to come up with this report,'' she said. "This is one of the best local task force put together this year. I am very pleased with the report.'' The group suggested that the Consumer Affairs Board should be given specific powers to give guidance to businesses, investigate complaints and if necessary take legal action.

The Consumer Protection Task Force was set up in October 1996 to review five main areas -- consumer product and service safety, misleading advertising, trade descriptions, unfair trade practices and debt collection.

When the task force was assembled, Sen. Swan had said that the existing legislation was inadequate.

And she said that there was a need to bring the Island's consumer protection law in line with other jurisdiction.

After 22 meetings, 18 written submissions and 24 presentations, the task force, chaired by Sir John Plowman, produced a 45-page report.

Among its recommendations: The Consumer Affairs Board should be put on a statutory footing and given specific statutory powers to provide guidance to businesses about the best practices, to investigate individual complaints, make recommendations and if their suggestions are not complied, to take legal action; The introduction of safety standards devised by the Consumer Affairs Board for certain goods which may be dangerous to users; That guidelines be issued by the Board requiring all packaged food to be date-stamped and that consideration be given to introducing penalties for selling food which is unmarked or beyond its date stamped; A policy should be established for the certification and licensing of mechanics; Consideration should be given to the establishment of a Small Claims Court with streamline procedures; There should be a complete review of all legislation relating to misleading advertising and false descriptions in particular the Trades Description Bill and the Consumer Protection Act 1989 (UK); and The Board, in conjunction with the Attorney General's Chamber, should issue basic standard lease agreements which clearly sets out the rights and duties of landlord and tenant.