The Department of Consumer Affairs has revised its Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for determining net quantity declarations and standard packaging sizes for edible oils and fats. Manufacturers, packers, and importers now have a three-month period to comply with the updated requirements, as stated in an official announcement.
The new regulations permit the sale of edible oils in nine designated pack sizes, replacing the wide array of volumes currently available in the market. The standard sizes include 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.
These norms will apply to major edible oils such as palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, rice bran oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, and blended edible oils.
The department indicated that these changes were finalized after consultations with prominent edible oil industry associations, which collectively represent about 90 percent of the country’s edible oil sector.
According to the revised rules, packages that list the quantity of edible oil in volume must also clearly state the corresponding weight, in accordance with the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
The new requirements will apply to both domestically produced and imported edible oils. However, packages smaller than 200 ml or 200 grams, along with niche edible oil categories, will be exempt from the standardization mandate to ensure that consumers retain access to affordable smaller packs.
Companies are encouraged to start implementing the new standard pack sizes before the compliance deadline, as per the department’s guidance.
Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) President Sudhakar Desai expressed support for the initiative, stating it would enhance organization on retail shelves and foster a more balanced market environment. He noted that while non-standard packaging was previously permitted for industry flexibility, it had led to market distortion and confusion due to the proliferation of multiple pack sizes in recent years.
