Centre Invites Consultations for Declaring Prime Constituents of Packaged Commodities alongside Brand Name/Logo of the Product

· Move to Strengthen Consumers' Rights

· Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 it is mandatory to declare few declarations like name and address of the manufacturer/ packer/ importer, country of origin, common or generic name of the commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, MRP, consumer care details etc. on all pre-packaged commodities in the interest of consumers.

· Commodity which contains more than one constituent shall have a declaration of composition of two or more prime constituents of the commodity with the Brand Name/ Logo at the front side of the package.

· Manufacturers/ packers/ importers are not making important declarations such as the composition of main ingredients prominently on the front side of the package.

· comments/ suggestions may be submitted upto 31.08.2022 on js-ca[at]nic[dot]in, dirwm-ca[at]nic[dot]in and ashutosh.agarwal13[at]nic[dot]in or physically to Director, Legal Metrology in Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi-01

The Centre has proposed a provision in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 that a commodity which contains more than one constituent shall have a declaration of composition of two or more prime constituents of the commodity with the Brand Name/ Logo at the front side of the package. The declaration of two or more prime constituents shall contain the percentage/ quantity of unique selling point / unique selling proposition (USP) of the product and in the same font size in which the declaration of unique selling point / unique selling proposition (USP) is made. The said provision shall not be applicable for a mechanical or electrical commodity.

The initiative came after it is observed that manufacturers/ packers/ importers are not making important declarations such as the composition of main ingredients prominently on the front side of the package. The declaration of unique selling point / unique selling proposition (USP) of the product on the front side of the package without it’s percentage of composition is against the consumers’ right to be informed.

Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 it is mandatory to declare few declarations like name and address of the manufacturer/ packer/ importer, country of origin, common or generic name of the commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, MRP, consumer care details etc. on all pre-packaged commodities in the interest of consumers.

For example, let us suppose if a product is sold with its unique selling point / unique selling proposition as being constituents ‘X’ and ‘Y’. As per the proposed provision, the manufacturer / packer / importer will be required to declare the name and composition of X and Y on the front side of the package as well. Such composition shall be declared in percentage such as “50%” or “50 percent” or “fifty percent” in the same font size in which the name of ‘X’ and ‘Y’ are declared on the package.

The public comments/ views are invited from all concerned/ stakeholders including industries, associations, consumers, Voluntary Consumer Organisation and other stakeholders in the matter of declaring two or more prime constituents of the commodity on the front side of the package with the brand name/ logo of the company.

The comments/ suggestions may be submitted upto 31.08.2022 on js-ca[at]nic[dot]in, dirwm-ca[at]nic[dot]in and ashutosh.agarwal13[at]nic[dot]in or physically to Director, Legal Metrology in Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi-01.