The industry body states that consumers are faced with a plethora of brands and pack options that look similar but differ in quantity, leading to confusion
Highlighting that consumers are faced with a plethora of brands and pack options that look similar but differ in quantity, leading to confusion, the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) has urged the Government to reinstate standardised pack sizes for edible oils to ensure transparency and restore normalcy in the market.
Even with the presence of unit sale prices (USP), small differences in net weight often go unnoticed, reducing the effectiveness of this safeguard in everyday decision-making, the apex body representing India’s edible oil refining industry added.
“Edible oil is a household essential, and packaging should communicate clearly and consistently. Standardised packaging ensures that price comparisons are simple, transparent, and fair. It creates a level playing field for both consumers and producers, encouraging trust and long-term brand value,” the statement read.
The industry body stated that the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules, 2021, mandated the declaration of the Unit Sale Price (USP). Subsequently, through an amendment, the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2022 omitted Schedule II, which mandated commodities to be packed in specific quantities, thus allowing the market to proliferate with non-standardised packaging, it said.
The intended benefit was to allow producers to pack as they deem it fit and it was expected that soon the markets would settle down and consumer awareness of unit selling price would take care of the non-standard pack offerings, as per the statement from the industry body. However, it noted that However, consumers are now faced with a plethora of brands and pack options that look similar but differ in quantity, leading to confusion and a misleading value perception.
