Govt issues rules for packaged commodities

Manufacturers, packers & importers to display names, net quantity, mfg date, MRP and consumer care contact, starting July 2016

The Centre has come out with amended rules for labelling of packaged commodities like rice, atta, dal and salt.

Under the rule, packs of such products must display six heads in the middle, covering 40 per cent of the area. Manufacturers, packers and importers must display their name, net quantity, manufacturing date, retail sale price and consumer care contact details, effective from July 2016.

The ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution recently amended the packaged commodities rules to effect these changes. The ministry will set up monitoring cell to “ensure strict compliance of new provisions”, the government notified on Friday.

Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (pictured) stated the ministry is setting up quick response system to attend consumer complaints and the existing national consumer helpline is being geared up for this purpose. A senior officer will monitor the disposal of complaints on daily basis.

Paswan said the Consumer Protection Bill is expected to be passed in the Parliament in the second part of the Budget session which will begin from April 25.