Consumer Affairs Department Eyes Rule Overhaul for Retail Packaged Commodities

The Department of Consumer Affairs plans to amend the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 to ensure uniform standards for retail packaged commodities, inviting comments by July 29, 2024.

The Department of Consumer Affairs is considering an amendment to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. This move aims to create uniformity for packaged commodities across both offline and online platforms.

The revised rules will ensure that all retail packaged commodities, sold in bags, adhere to the same standards—excluding those intended for industrial or institutional consumers. The amendment will help establish consistent requirements, promoting fairness and making it easier for consumers to make informed choices, said the Department in a statement.

Stakeholders are invited to submit comments within 15 days, up to July 29, 2024. According to the rules, mandatory information such as the manufacturer’s name, country of origin, net quantity, and use-by date must be declared on all pre-packaged commodities to protect consumer interests.

However, the rules do not apply to packages exceeding 25 kilograms or 25 liters, with some exceptions for items like cement and fertilizer in larger quantities. The amendment seeks to address the issue of larger packaged commodities being sold for retail, contradicting the original intent.