Centre amends the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 for enhanced protection of Consumer Rights

Amendment to ensure that consumers are able to make an informed choice and reduced compliance for industries

To safeguard the interests of consumers, the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has omitted Rule 5 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities), Rules 2011 defining the Schedule II prescribing the pack sizes of various types of commodities. A new provision has been introduced to indicate the unit sale price on pre-packed commodities, which will allow easier comparison of the prices of the commodities at the time of purchase.

The amendments to come into effect from 1st April, 2022

Earlier, the month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or pre-packed or imported were required to be mentioned in the package. Representation from Industry and associations in this respect has been received to remove this ambiguity.

Mandatory declaration of MRP in Indian currency inclusive of all taxes on pre packedproducts

For reducing the compliance burden and removing the ambiguity of declaration of the date on pre-packed commodities for consumers, the declaration has now been required to the month and year in which the commodity is manufactured for the pre-packed commodities.

For protection of Consumer rights, Unit Sale Price for all pre packed commodities meant for retail sale is introduced

The provisions of declarations of MRP has been simplified by removing illustration and providing for making the mandatory declaration of MRP in Indian currency inclusive of all taxes. This has allowed the manufacturer/packer/importer to declare the MRP on the pre-packed commodities in a simplified manner.

Declaration of date of manufacture on the pre packed commodities is made mandatory for pre packedcommodities under the revised rules

Rules for declaring the commodities sold in pre-packed commodities in numbers have been eased out for reducing the compliance burden for manufacturer /importer/packer. Earlier such declarations could be denoted as ‘N’ or ‘U’ only. Now the quantities can be expressed in terms of the number or unit or piece or pair or set or such other word which represents the quantity in the package. This will remove the ambiguity of the declaration of quantity sold by number in pre-packed commodities.

Disclaimer : This is an official press release by PIB.