Amendments in Legal Metrology Rules, 2011: Confusion is in the label

The new labelling and packaging requirements are posing implementation challenges for businesses

The amendments to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011, approved by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in June this year, come into effect from January 1 next year. However, implementation challenges are hobbling businesses that are in the process of meeting the new labelling and packaging requirements.

Experts point out that there are multiple pieces of legislation dealing with labelling on products. For example, there are requirements prescribed for medical devices under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Similarly, for food, there are declarations prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act. “With multiple laws, it