What is the purpose of the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011?

The 2011 rules set standards for weights, measures, and labelling for pre-packaged goods to protect consumers and ensure fair trade.

What are Packaged Commodities Rules?

Packaged Commodities Rules regulate the packaging and labelling of products to ensure they have accurate information like quantity, price, and expiry date.

What information must be on a product label?

Labels must include the product name, net weight, date of manufacture, expiry date, MRP, ingredient list, manufacturer details, and the FSSAI logo with a licence number.

What are the new changes under the Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011?

The proposed amendment requires detailed labelling on bulk packages over 25 kg or 25 litres, including MRP, best before date, and manufacturer information, even for retail sale.

What should I do if I find non-compliant packaging?

You can file a complaint by dialing 1800114000 or visiting the official website for more information on the Packaged Commodities Act.

What is the rule 27 of packaged commodity rules?

Rule 27 deals with penalties for non-compliance, including incorrect declarations or violations of labeling provisions. Offenders may face fines or legal action under the Legal Metrology Act.

What is the rule 18 of packaged commodities rules?

Rule 18 mandates that retail sale price (MRP) must be clearly printed on every packaged commodity, inclusive of all taxes. No sale above MRP is permitted.

What are the 5 mandatory components of food labels?

Name of food, list of ingredients, nutritional information, net quantity, and manufacturer/importer details with FSSAI license number are mandatory.

What are the 4 types of labeling?

Primary labeling (on product), secondary labeling (outer package), informational labeling (nutritional/legal info), and promotional labeling (branding/claims).

What are the mandatory labelling requirements?

Every packaged commodity must declare the name of the product, net quantity, MRP, date of manufacture/packing, and name & address of the manufacturer/packer/importer. These details must be clear, legible, and printed on the package.

What are the GMP guidelines for labeling?

Labels must be accurate, non-misleading, legible, and consistent with product content. GMP ensures traceability, batch identification, and compliance with legal standards.

Is LMPC mandatory for import?

Yes. Importers must comply with LMPC rules, including registration and proper labeling before goods are cleared for sale in India.

What is the rule 6 of packaged commodities?

Rule 6 specifies mandatory declarations such as name, net quantity, MRP, customer care details, and date of manufacture/packing.

What is the rule 19 of Lmpc?

Rule 19 deals with declarations for imported goods, requiring country of origin, importer details, and MRP before retail sale.

What are the Labelling requirements as per Legal Metrology Act?

The Act requires accurate declaration of quantity, price, manufacturer/importer details, and prohibits misleading or false labeling.

What is the Legal Metrology Packaged commodities Rule 2011 Amendment 2025?

The recent amendment focuses on stricter e-commerce compliance, clearer consumer disclosures, and enhanced penalty provisions, continuing the reforms introduced in 2022–23.

What are the exemptions for Lmpc?

Packages meant for industrial or institutional consumers, free samples, and certain export packages are exempt from LMPC labeling requirements.

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Government Proposes Mandatory Labelling For Bulk Commodities

Pragya Pathak

Author

Updated: 29-12-2025 at 3:30 PM

Packaged goods are everyday commodities that influence our shopping habits and our daily lives. In today’s world, it is essential to understand them, as this means knowing the products we use and the rules that apply to them. Certain regulations for manufacturers and retailers ensure fairness and safety in packaging and labelling, and are monitored by the authorities. These rules also help manufacturers and retailers to maintain confidence in the quality of the products.

Hence, the government of India introduced several rules, like the Packaged Commodity Rules and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, to regulate the packaging and labelling of products that are being sold in the market so that consumers can make informed decisions before purchasing anything and everything.

Read the article to learn more about the Packaged Commodity Rules, ranging from their meaning and requirements to changes in related laws and overall amendments made in the rules as per changing times.

Overview

The table below summarises some key details about the Packaged Commodity Rules that people should know.

Rules concerning	Packaged Commodity
Objective	To regulate the packaging and labelling of products, ensuring they contain precise information
Applicable for	Pre-packed goods
Mandatory info in the packet	Name of the product, net quantity, Maximum Retail Price, manufacturing and expiry date, manufacturer details
Under the supervision of	Department of Consumer Affairs
Recent change	Mandatory labelling for retail packers above the weight of 25 kg/litre.

What Are Packaged Commodity Rules?

The Packaged Commodity Rules regulate the packaging and labelling of products, ensuring they contain precise information such as quantity, price, and expiry date.

These rules require clear labelling with information such as manufacturer information, net quantity, minimum price, and standardised units of measure. To protect consumers and promote fairness, penalties are imposed for non-compliance with the rules.

What Are The Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011?

The Packaged Commodities Rules regulate pre-packaged goods in India and, among other things, specify certain labelling standards before these products are sold. The main objective of this rule is to lay down and enforce standards of weights and measures and to regulate trade in weights, measures, and other products distributed or sold by weight or measure and all other aspects relating thereto.

Under the Act, the Central Government may appoint a Director of Legal Metrology to perform functions relating to inter-State trade. The State Government may appoint a Controller of Legal Metrology to perform functions relating to intra-State trade and commerce.

Also Read: FSSAI to Implement Strict Regulations on Protein Supplements- What Does It Mean for Gym Lovers?

What Are The Mandatory Requirements For Packaged Commodities?

The requirements that must be met for packaged goods include many factors. All of them are listed below in detailed points for one’s reference:

Proper labelling - Each product should have a label that includes important information such as the product name, net weight (weight or volume), and the date of manufacture and expiration date.
Ingredient list - Labels should include an ingredient list identifying all of the products' constituents used during production. It will allow allergy sufferers and people with special diet requirements to avoid potentially allergenic ingredients.
MRP (Maximum Retail Price) - Maximum Retail Price, or MRP, should always be clearly displayed on packaging for clarity in pricing.
Manufacturer information - Labels must display the address and contact details for the packer, manufacturer, and importer.
FSSAI logo and licence number - The logo and licence number of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) should be visible on the label. This means that the product complies with the food safety standards for nutritional information.

New Changes Under Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011

The Consumer Affairs Ministry on Sunday proposed an amendment to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules (2011) to make it mandatory to declare important information on packaged products weighing more than 25 kg or more than 25 litres at retail.

This is intended to close an existing loophole that prevents key information, such as maximum retail price (MRP), best before date, manufacturer information, and country of origin, from being included on bulk packs. The proposed amendment requires packers, manufacturers, and importers to fully label all packaged products destined for retail sale, regardless of quantity.

The proposed rules do not cover packaged goods sold to institutional or industrial consumers. This initiative is meant to address the rising trend of pre-packaged bulk goods on the retail market; by clearly labelling such items, the government hopes to improve transparency and ensure customers get all relevant information before purchasing an item.

Changes In The Packaged Commodity Rules Over The Years

From 2011 to 2024, the Packaged Commodity Rules have gone through several changes and amendments. All the major amendments to the rules over the recent years are described below for one’s better understanding.

1. Packaged Commodity Rules, 2021

The Packaged Commodity Rules, 2021, focus on improving transparency in the labelling aspect of the product so that people can make informed decisions about purchasing the product or not. These rules have put a special focus on displaying net quantity and clearly mentioning the maximum retail price to minimise and avoid misleading packaging practices.

2. Packaged Commodities Rules, 2022

The Packaged Commodities Rules, 2022, emphasise much stricter compliance requirements, especially for online and e-commerce platforms. All the manufacturers and sellers are required to mention the maximum retail price, manufacturer details, and the country where the product has been made. This was done so that while purchasing things online, people can read about the product details just as they can while purchasing goods from a shop.

3. Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2023

The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2023, were concerning bulb and institutional packaging. With this amendment, the authorities not only clarified labelling requirements but also strengthened penalties for those who wouldn’t comply with the law. The main aim behind this was to prevent the misuse of bulk packaging exemptions and improve tracing of the product back to the manufacturer.

4. Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2024

The amendment of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2024 focused on mandatory declarations on retail packages of more than 25 kgs or 25 litres. The authorities aim to provide consumers with detailed information about the product, irrespective of the size of manufacturing for that particular product.

Conclusion

Consumers and businesses need to understand the complexities of packaged goods sold at retail. A fair and transparent market environment promotes trust and accountability between shoppers and vendors. The government is responding to the increase in retail availability of bulk packaged goods by increasing transparency by clearly labelling these items and providing consumers with complete information at the point of purchase.

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