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Govt reintroduces std pkg sizes for edible oils, phasing out irregular ones
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Thursday, 11 June, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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In a major move to restore market transparency, the Central Government has reintroduced standard packaging sizes for edible oils, effectively phasing out irregular net quantities’ framework within the next three months.
In this regard, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) issued a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Legal Metrology framework.
This directive follows a high-level stakeholder meeting led by Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. The new mandate applies to major oils, including palm, soybean, sunflower, mustard, groundnut, rice bran, and their blends.
According to the notification, permissible standard pack sizes are strictly fixed at 200g/ml, 500g/ml, 1kg/l, 2kg/l, 3kg/l, 4kg/l, 5kg/l, 15kg/l, and 20kg/l. Packages below 200g or 200ml remain exempt. Consequently, confusing non-standard sizes like 650ml, 700ml, 810ml, 850ml, and 870ml will completely disappear from retail shelves.
Shankar Thakkar, national president of the All India Edible Oil Traders Federation, welcomed the decision, stating, "This landmark move will restore order and transparency in the retail market, creating a level playing field for all manufacturers while eliminating consumer confusion."
The federation had strongly opposed the deregulation introduced three years ago, claiming it favoured multinational corporations and led to a flood of deceptive packaging.
Tarun Jain, national general secretary of the federation, noted that standard sizes will now allow effortless price comparison across various brands, helping buyers understand the true value of the product.
As per the DoCA, if the quantity of edible oil is shown in litres or millilitres (volume), the package must also clearly mention the equivalent weight. This requirement will be followed as per the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
Further, the new provisions will apply to both edible oils produced in India and imported edible oils. The existing rules related to sampling, testing, checking net quantity and permissible errors will continue to be governed by the Standard Operating Procedure and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
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