Govt Fixes Standard Pack Sizes for Edible Oils

• Standard pack sizes notified for major edible oils
• Equivalent weight declaration made mandatory on packs
• Rules apply to both imported and domestic edible oils
• Industry gets three months to implement new norms

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th June: In a move aimed at enhancing consumer transparency and promoting fair trade practices, the Department of Consumer Affairs has prescribed standard pack sizes for edible oils and fats under the Legal Metrology framework.

The revised Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), amending guidelines issued in December 2023, seeks to address the growing use of varied package sizes in the edible oil market, which often makes price comparisons difficult for consumers.

The decision follows consultations with major edible oil industry associations representing nearly 90 per cent of the sector.

Under the new norms, standard pack sizes have been prescribed for major edible oils and blended edible oils, including palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, rice bran oil, cottonseed oil and corn oil.

The approved pack sizes are 200 ml/g, 500 ml/g, 1 litre/kg, 2 litre/kg, 3 litre/kg, 4 litre/kg, 5 litre/kg, 15 litre/kg and 20 litre/kg.

Officials said the standardisation will enable consumers to compare prices across brands more effectively and assess value for money with greater ease.

As part of the revised framework, manufacturers will also be required to clearly mention the equivalent weight whenever the quantity is declared in litres or millilitres. The measure is intended to improve transparency and facilitate informed purchasing decisions.

The provisions will apply equally to edible oils manufactured in India and imported products.

The Department has provided a transition period of three months for manufacturers, packers and importers to comply with the new requirements. Companies willing to adopt the standards immediately may do so without waiting for the transition period to end.

The government clarified that packages below 200 ml or 200 grams have been kept outside the scope of standardisation to ensure continued availability of affordable small packs. Minor edible oils have also been exempted from the standard pack size requirement.

Existing provisions relating to sampling, testing, verification of net quantity and permissible errors will continue to be governed by the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.

According to the Department, the initiative will benefit both consumers and industry by encouraging greater packaging uniformity, improving compliance and fostering fair competition in the edible oil market.

The Consumer Affairs Department said the reform reflects its continued commitment to strengthening consumer confidence through transparency, fairness and informed choice.