Centre amends the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 for enhanced protection of Consumer Rights

What is the News?

The Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011.

What is Legal Metrology?

Metrology is the science of measurement.Legal metrology provides regulations for the control of measurements and measuring instruments.It also provides rules for protection of public safety, the environment, consumers, traders and is critical to fair trade. 

What are the amendments introduced in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011?

Indicate Unit Sale Price on pre packed commodities: Companies will be required to print ‘unit sale price’ on the packaged commodities.For example, a packaged wheat flour of 2.5 kg should have a unit sale price per kg along with the total MRP.This will make it easier for the consumers to ascertain the cost in unit terms.

Schedule 2 of rules scrapped: The Ministry has scrapped the Schedule 2 of the rules under which 19 types of commodities were to be packed in quantities by weight, measure or number in a specified manner.Now the companies can sell the commodities in any quantity.

Pre Packed Commodities: Mandatory Declaration of date of manufacture on the pre packaged commodities.

Mandatory Declaration of MRP: ​​Government has made it mandatory to declare MRP in Indian currency inclusive of all taxes on pre packed products.

Note: Pre-packed commodity means any commodity which is placed in a package without the purchaser being present and the product contained therein has a predetermined quantity.

Source: This post is based on the article “Centre amends the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 for enhanced protection of Consumer Rights” published in PIB on 9th November 2021.