The Legal Metrology Department under the guidance of Ministry of Consumer Affairs has recently issued a notice for direct selling companies to comply with the provision of Legal Metrology Act and Rules, 2009 and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities), 2011. It directs the direct selling companies to adhere to the mandatory declarations required to be made on pre-packaged commodities. All Direct Selling Companies should mandatorily comply and apply for the registration of Legal Metrology for their products. The declarations are in the interest of consumers that involve all important information of a commodity / product including those that become harmful for human beings to consume after a period of time and other consumer care details.

The legal metrology department has also requested the direct selling companies to provide a copy of the registration certificate issued under Rule 27 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.

Understanding the Act

The Legal Metrology Act replaced the Standard of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985. It was enacted to establish enforce standards of weights and measures, regulate trade and commerce in weights, measures, and other goods which are sold or distributed by weight, measure, or number and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Defining Pre-Packaged Commodities?

As per the section 2(l) of The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 - "Pre‐packaged commodity" means a commodity which without the purchaser being present is placed in a package of whatever nature, whether sealed or not, so that the product contained therein has a pre‐determined quantity.

Mandatory Declarations

The below declarations have to be made on every package intended for sale in retail:

• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Name of the country of origin or manufacture (in case of imported products)
• Name and number of quantities of each product (in case of multiple products in a package)
• Net quantity (in terms of weight and measurement)
• Month and year of manufacture
• Maximum Retail Price of the commodity

The registration of manufacturer, importer, and seller, marketers or packer for the pre-packaged commodity is mandatory and the direct selling companies have to strictly comply with the mandatory declarations stated above.

Don’t forget our Piplbyte Consultants can give you proper instructions and apply for Legal Metrology registration for your Direct Selling Company.