Govt Prescribes New Packaging Norms to Make Edible Oil Price Comparisons Easier
New legal metrology norms mandate uniform packaging and equivalent weight declarations; industry gets three months to comply
The decision was prompted by the growing proliferation of varying package sizes in the market, which often makes it difficult for consumers to assess value for money and compare products across brands.
New Delhi: In a move aimed at making it easier for consumers to compare prices and make informed purchasing decisions, the Department of Consumer Affairs has prescribed standard pack sizes for edible oils and fats under the Legal Metrology framework.
The department has amended the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) issued on December 29, 2023, following consultations with major edible oil industry associations representing nearly 90 per cent of the country’s edible oil sector.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in a statement said on Saturday the decision was prompted by the growing proliferation of varying package sizes in the market, which often makes it difficult for consumers to assess value for money and compare products across brands.
Under the revised framework, standard pack sizes have been prescribed for major edible oils and blended edible oils, including palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, mustard or rapeseed oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, rice bran oil, cottonseed oil and corn oil.
The permitted pack 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
- 20 litre/kg
According to the department, the standardisation is expected to bring greater transparency to the market by enabling consumers to compare prices more easily across different brands and package formats.
A key feature of the revised SoP is the requirement for manufacturers and importers to declare the equivalent weight alongside the volume whenever edible oil is sold in litres or millilitres. The measure is intended to help consumers make more accurate comparisons between products and better understand the quantity being purchased.
The provisions will apply to both domestically manufactured and imported edible oils. Existing rules relating to sampling, testing, net quantity verification and permissible errors will continue to be governed by the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
The government has provided a transition period of three months for manufacturers, packers and importers to align their packaging and labelling practices with the new requirements. Companies willing to adopt the revised standards earlier may do so immediately.
The department clarified that packages below 200 ml or 200 grams will remain outside the scope of standardisation, ensuring continued availability of low-cost small packs for consumers. Minor edible oils have also been exempted from the standard pack size requirements.
Industry stakeholders are expected to benefit from greater uniformity in packaging practices, simplified compliance requirements and a more level competitive environment. The government believes the reforms will contribute to a more transparent marketplace while strengthening consumer confidence.
The Department of Consumer Affairs said the initiative forms part of its broader efforts to protect consumer interests through measures that promote transparency, fairness and informed decision-making in the marketplace.
