INDUSTRY
New norms mandate standard pack sizes for edible oils for easy price comparison
- IBJ Bureau
- Jun 07, 2026
The Department of Consumer Affairs has prescribed standard pack sizes for edible oils under the Legal Metrology framework.
The move is aimed at helping consumers compare prices across brands and make informed purchasing decisions.
The department has amended its Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for determination of net quantity and standard pack sizes of edible oils and fats, giving manufacturers, packers and importers a three-month transition period to comply with the new norms.
The revised SoP prescribes nine standard pack sizes – 200 ml/g, 500 ml/g, 1 litre/kg, 2 litres/kg, 3 litres/kg, 4 litres/kg, 5 litres/kg, 15 litres/kg and 20 litres/kg – for major edible oils, including palm, soybean, sunflower, mustard, groundnut, sesame, rice bran, cottonseed and corn oil, as well as blended edible oils.
The decision follows extensive consultations with major edible oil industry associations representing nearly 90 per cent of the country’s edible oil sector.
Under the new norms, if the quantity of edible oil is shown in volume, the package must also clearly mention the equivalent weight according to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
The provisions will apply to both domestically manufactured and imported edible oils.
Packages below 200 ml or 200 grams and minor edible oils have been exempted from the standard pack size requirement to ensure continued availability of affordable small packs.
Businesses wishing to adopt the standard pack sizes ahead of the deadline may do so immediately, the department has said.
Sudhakar Desai, the president of the Indian Vegetable oil Producers’ Association has welcomed the move and said: “This move will restore structural sanity to retail shelves and level the playing field.”
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