**Executive Summary**
The Department of Consumer Affairs met with major edible oil industry associations on May 20, 2026, to discuss the introduction of standard pack sizes under the Legal Metrology framework. The initiative aims to enhance market transparency and facilitate easier price comparisons for consumers by reducing the variety of non-standard packaging currently in use. Key proposals include standardizing sizes between 200 ml and 20 litres/kg and implementing a three-month transition period for manufacturers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Objectives of Standardization**
* Improve market transparency and support fair trade practices.
* Eliminate consumer confusion caused by similar-looking packs with varying quantities (e.g., 650g, 700g, 810g, 850g, and 870g).
* Enable consumers to make informed choices through easier price comparisons across products.
* **Proposed Standard Pack Sizes**
* Suggested sizes include: 200 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre, 2 litres, 3 litres, 4 litres, 5 litres, 15 litres/15 kg, and 20 litres/20 kg.
* **Product Coverage**
* The standards are proposed for major edible oils, including Palm, Soybean, Sunflower, Mustard/Rapeseed, Groundnut, Sesame, Rice bran, Cottonseed, Corn, and Blended edible oils.
* The requirements would apply equally to both domestically manufactured and imported edible oils.
* **Exemptions and Implementation**
* Packs below 200 ml may remain exempt to ensure the availability of affordable small packs for consumers.
* Minor edible oils may be excluded from the proposed requirements.
* A suggested transition period of approximately three months would be provided for manufacturers to make necessary adjustments.
* Manufacturers may be permitted to adopt the proposed sizes earlier on a voluntary basis.
**Impact Analysis**
**Edible Oil Manufacturers and Industry Associations**
**Impact**
Manufacturers representing approximately 90% of the sector must move away from non-standard pack sizes to comply with the proposed Legal Metrology framework.
**Action Required**
Prepare to adjust manufacturing and packaging lines to meet the new standard sizes within the proposed three-month transition period.
**Consumers**
**Impact**
Consumers will benefit from a more transparent marketplace where price comparison between different brands is simplified.
**Action Required**
No specific action is required, but consumers will be able to utilize standardized packaging to make more informed purchasing decisions.
**Importers of Edible Oils**
**Impact**
Imported oils are subject to the same standardization requirements as domestic products, ensuring a level playing field.
**Action Required**
Ensure that all imported edible oil products are packaged in accordance with the prescribed Indian standard sizes.
**Department of Consumer Affairs**
**Impact**
The Department is responsible for evaluating stakeholder feedback to strengthen consumer protection.
**Action Required**
Examine the views received during the consultation to finalize and implement balanced policy measures under the Legal Metrology framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Legal Metrology framework: The regulatory structure under which the government is examining the introduction of standard pack sizes for edible oils to improve transparency and price comparison.
Department of Consumer Affairs: The nodal government department responsible for evaluating industry suggestions and prescribing standard packaging quantities for edible oils.
Edible Oil Industry Associations: Stakeholder groups including IVPA, SEA, SOPA, COOIT, and MOPA, representing 90% of the sector, which reached a consensus to standardize packs ranging from 200 ml to 20 kg.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Department of Consumer Affairs holds
stakeholder meeting on Different Pack Sizes for
Edible Oils
Consensus among Industry associations to introduce
standard pack sizes for major edible oils
Department examining the possibility of prescribing standard
pack sizes for edible oils to improve transparency and
facilitate price comparison for consumers
Suggestions include standard pack sizes ranging from 200 ml
to 20 litres/20 kg
Posted On: 25 MAY 2026 7:04PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Consumer Affairs is examining the possibility to introduce standard pack sizes for
edible oils under the Legal Metrology framework following suggestions received from major industry
associations representing around 90 per cent of the country's edible oil sector.A meeting under the chairpersonship of the Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs was held on 20
May 2026 with representatives of major edible oil industry associations to discuss concerns regarding the
increasing number of package sizes available in the market and the resulting difficulties faced by
consumers in comparing prices across products.
Representatives from the Indian Vegetable Producers Association (IVPA), Solvent Extractors’ Association
(SEA), Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA), Central Organisation for Oil Industry and Trade
(COOIT) and Mustard Oil Producers Association (MOPA) participated in the meeting. The associations
informed that they collectively represent around 90 per cent of the edible oil sector in the country.
During the meeting, industry representatives pointed out that edible oils are currently sold in several
package quantities such as 650 g, 700 g, 810 g, 850 g and 870 g. They stated that similar-looking packswith different quantities can make it potentially misleading to compare prices and make informed choices.
The Department jointly discussed the introduction of standard pack sizes for major edible oils.
The pack sizes suggested by the associations are:
· 200 ml
· 500 ml
· 1 litre
· 2 litres
· 3 litres
· 4 litres
· 5 litres
· 15 litres/15 kg
· 20 litres/20 kg
Associations jointly requested for covering major edible oils,
· Palm oil/Palm olein
· Soybean oil
· Sunflower oil
· Mustard/Rapeseed oil
· Groundnut oil
· Sesame oil
· Rice bran oil
· Cottonseed oil
· Corn oil
· Blended edible oils
Suggestions By the Association:
· Packs below 200 ml may continue to remain outside the scope of standardisation to ensure the
continued availability of affordable small packs for consumers.
· Minor edible oils may remain exempt from the proposed requirement.
· A transition period of approximately three months may be provided to enable manufacturers to
make the necessary adjustments.
· Manufacturers willing to adopt the proposed pack sizes earlier may be permitted to do so.
It was clarified during the meeting that any such requirement, if introduced, would apply equally to both
domestically manufactured and imported edible oils. The Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs,observed that the suggestions received from industry associations are being examined to improve
transparency, make price comparison easier for consumers and support fair trade practices.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is examining the views received during the consultation and remains
committed to strengthening consumer protection and ensuring transparency in the marketplace through
balanced and practical policy measures.
***
RT/ ARC
(Release ID: 2265088) Visitor Counter : 555
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Marathi , Gujarati