Govt prescribes standard packs for edible oils
New Delhi, June 7: In a significant order, the Government has issued new rules mandating standard pack sizes for major edible oils and given the manufacturers, packers and importers 3 months to comply
The rules apply to standard pack sizes for major edible oils, including palm oil, palmolein, soybean oil, sunflower oil, mustard/rapeseed oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, rice bran oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil and their blends.
The approved pack sizes are 200 grams, 500 grams, 1 kg, 2 kg, 3 kg, 4 kg, 5 kg, 15 kg and 20 kg.
In volume terms, the corresponding sizes will be 200 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre, 2 litres, 3 litres, 4 litres, 5 litres, 15 litres and 20 litres.
Packages below 200 grams or 200 ml will remain unrestricted.
As a result, non-standard packs such as 650 grams, 700 grams, 810 grams, 850 grams and 870 grams will be phased out from the market within three months.
The new order means end to odd-sized packs that industry and consumer groups say made price comparisons difficult and confused buyers.
The new Advisory issued by the Ministry of Commerce said minor edible oils not covered under the list of major oils will remain exempt from the standard pack-size requirement, although they must comply with existing provisions relating to Unit Sale Price declarations under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
Revision of the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) follows a stakeholder meeting chaired by Consumer Affairs secretary Nidhi Khare on May 20, where leading edible oil industry bodies reached a consensus on restoring standard pack sizes to improve market transparency and consumer awareness.
Edible oil constitutes a primary element of food in India, with heavy dependence on imports to meet domestic demand.
Consumption of edible oil in India rose from 24.6 million tonnes in 2020-21 to 28.9 million tonnes in 2022-23.
A 2024 report by NITI Aayog showed India’s per capita edible oil consumption has nearly doubled over the past two decades to around 19.7 kg annually.
