The Department of Consumer Affairs on Saturday made it mandatory to package edible oils in certain specific quantities under the Legal Metrology framework. The government has taken this step so that consumers can easily compare prices among various brands and make the right decision. For this purpose, the said department has amended the rules of ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ for determining standard-sized packets.
Along with oil manufacturing companies, importers will also have to comply with the new rules prescribed by the government within the next three months. Under the new SOP, edible oil packets in the country can now be sold in only 9 standard sizes.
These new rules will be applicable to palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, rice bran oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, and all types of blended oils.
According to the new rules, the packet of edible oil must mention its volume in liters or milliliters, and additionally, under the Legal Metrology Rules, 2011, the quantity of oil must be clearly stated in grams or kilograms. This rule will apply to both domestic edible oil as well as oil imported from abroad.
Notably, to ensure the availability of small-quantity, low-priced packets in the market, the government has announced some relaxations in the new rules. In this regard, packets smaller than 200 ml or 200 grams have been kept outside the purview of the standard-sized packet rules prescribed by the government.
Compare Before You Buy: Govt Fixes 9 Standard Pack Sizes for All Edible Oils, 3-Month Deadline
