Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2012

Department of Commercial Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution vide Notification(s) G.S.R 426(E) & G.S.R 427(E), in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (j) and (q) of sub-section (2) of Section 52 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 the Central Govt. amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 namely Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2012.

As per this amendment, Rule 5 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 shall be numbered as sub-rule (1) thereof and sub-rule (1) as so numbered the following sub-rules shall be inserted;When one or more packages intended for retail sale are grouped together for being sold as a retail package on promotional offer, every package of the group shall comply with the provisions of Rule 6. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Second Schedule, the manufacturer or the importer may sell the value based package in terms of Re. 1/- to Rs. 10/- after making all other declarations specified in Rule 6.

The words “Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954” under sub-rule (1) of Rule 5 shall be substituted with “Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006”. Besides, a sub-rule (7) is inserted under Rule 6 mandating every package containing the genetically modified food shall bear at the top of its Principal Display Panel the words “GM”.

Rule 33 shall be numbered as sub-rule (1)) thereof and after sub-rule (1) as so numbered the following sub-rule shall be inserted;

The Central Govt. may, after ascertaining the genuineness of a case stated in the application permit a manufacturer or packer or importer to pack or sell of the packages other than specified in the Second Schedule for a maximum period of one year by relaxing the Rule. Besides, Second Schedule was substituted. Further, the entry “volume” in column 3 against serial number 15 shall be substituted by “weight or volume”.