Govt tells edible oil producers to declare net quantity without temperature

The Centre on Thursday advised edible oil manufacturers, packers and importers to declare net quantity on edible oil in volume without temperature in addition to declaring the same in weight.

They have also been advised by the Department of Consumer Affairs to correct their labelling of declaring net quantity in the units of volume without mentioning temperature with weight of the product, within six months from the date of direction issued, which is up to January 15, 2023.

Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, it is mandatory to declare the net quantity in terms of standard units of weight or measure apart from other declarations on all pre-packaged commodities in the interest of consumers.

“As per the provisions made under the rules the net quantity of edible oil, vanaspati ghee etc. needs to be declared either in weight or volume and if declared in volume, then the equivalent weight of the commodity mandatorily to be declared. It is observed that industries are proactively mentioning temperature while declaring the net quantity in volume,” says the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

Manufacturers, packers and importers are declaring net quantity of edible oil in volume mentioning the temperature at the time of packing along with the units of mass. Few manufacturers were depicting the temperature as high as 600 degree Celsius.

“It has been observed that such declaration of net quantity of edible oil, vanaspati ghee etc. in terms of volume keeping the volume fixed (for example 1 litre) at different temperatures with mass, which differs, when the packaging mentions a higher temperature,” the ministry says, adding that the weight of soyabean edible oil may be different at different temperatures keeping the volume one litre.

In order to ensure that the consumer gets the correct quantity in the package at the time of purchase, the manufacturers, packers and importers of edible oil have been advised to pack the said products without mentioning temperature and to ensure that the quantity declared on the package in volume and mass should be correct.

In June, all major edible oil brands had cut prices by ₹10-15. The government claimed that its interventions on multiple fronts led to a falling trend in edible oil prices, which will help in cooling inflation.