Govt makes packaging size mandatory for 19 specified commodities

02 Nov 2012 Evaluate

In a move to make sure price and quantity comparability of the products at the retail end, the Union government under the Legal Metrology (packaged commodities) Amendment Rules 2012 has made compulsory for a manufacturer to pack items in prescribed standard sizes only. Pursuant to which, all manufacturing units of 19 specified commodities will have to package their products in standard sizes effective Nov 2.

This move by the government will protect consumers from unfair trade practice by companies of reducing weight without changing the retail price. The ministry has come out with a list of products such as biscuits, baby food, bread, butter, coffee, tea, drinking water, milk powder, soft drink, weaning food, salt, edible oils, cereals, pulses, rice, wheat flour, cement and paints, which will fall under the new rule.

The manufacturers in the organized sector have taken necessary actions to conform to the standard size and labeling rule. Further, FMCG companies have reportedly started the preliminary work for compliance 4 months ago. The government had extended the deadline for conformity from July 1 to Nov 1.

Under the new norm, the manufacturers no longer can use rubber stamp to mention month, year of manufacture and have to use standard value of weight, volume or number or length, breadth and thickness only. Use of words like large, medium, XXL and L in garments to denote size are not allowed. It has to be in centimeters. Ice creams and similar frozen products should be sold by weight only. However, the new rule exempt lower unit price packs worth Re 1 to Rs 10.

Now companies have to specifically mention important details on promotional offer packages and relaxations in weight for categories of bread, biscuits, baby food, beverages, edible oil, toilet soaps and packaged water.

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