New Delhi9 minutes ago
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The Department of Consumer Affairs on Saturday made standard pack sizes mandatory for edible oils under the legal metrology framework. The main objective of this step of the government is to help customers compare prices between different brands and take the right decision.
For this, the department has made changes in the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) to decide the net quantity and standard pack size. Oil companies and importers have been given 3 months to adopt these new rules.
9 Cooking oil will be sold only in fixed sizes
Under the new SoP, now major cooking oils can be sold in the country only in 9 fixed standard pack sizes. These sizes will be 200 ml/g, 500 ml/g, 1 litre/kg, 2 litre/kg, 3 litre/kg, 4 litre/kg, 5 litre/kg, 15 litre/kg and 20 litre/kg.
These new rules will be applicable to palm oil, soybean, sunflower, mustard, peanut, sesame, rice bran, cottonseed, corn oil and all types of blended edible oils.
It is important to write weight along with volume.
According to the new rules, if the quantity of edible oil is shown in volume i.e. liters or milliliters on the packet, then its equivalent weight (grams or kilograms) will also have to be clearly written on it under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
This rule will apply equally to both edible oils produced in the country (domestic) and imported from abroad.
Small packets exempted from rules
To ensure continuous availability of low priced small packets in the market, the government has also given some relaxations. Packets having size less than 200 ml or 200 grams have been kept out of this standard pack size rule.
Apart from this, minor edible oils (less commonly used oils) have also been exempted from this scope. Companies who want to adopt it before the deadline can start it immediately.
Decision taken with the consent of 90% industry
This official decision of the Government has been taken after long and detailed discussions with major industry associations representing approximately 90% of the edible oil sector.
Indian Vegetable Oil Producers Association (IVPA) President Sudhakar Desai welcomed the government’s move. He said that with this decision all companies will get equal opportunity.
Confusion was increasing in the market for three years
- While talking about the market situation, Sudhakar Desai said that due to non-standardization (not having fixed sizes) for the last three years, the market was being greatly affected.
- He said that earlier pack sizes were not fixed to give freedom to the industry, but in the last 3 years this practice has spoiled the market.
- There was a flood of packets of strange sizes in the market, which was creating a lot of confusion among the common customers.
What is Legal Metrology Act?
- In India, Legal Metrology Act has been enacted to regulate the weighing, measurement and information written on packaged goods (such as MRP, weight, expiry).
- Its purpose is to ensure that the customer gets the same quantity inside as is written on the packet and companies cannot mislead customers by giving less weight.
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