The Standards of Weights &

Measures Rules, 1977

PACKAGED COMMODITIES

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 Introduction
 The standard of weight & measures act,1956 was the first
enactment by which the uniform standard Weight &
Measures, based on the metric system were established .
The standards established by the 1956 act were based on
the international system of units,as recognized by the
general conference of weight & measures (CGPM)and the
international organization of legal metrology.
 In exercise of the powers conferred by section 83 of the
standards of weight & measure act,1976 (60 of 1976),the
central government hereby makes the following rules for
the proper indication on the package of net quantity by
weight,measures or number,the identity of the commodity
contain therein,name of the manufacture, and what is
very important,the price of the package.

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Definitions:-
 MANUFACTURER: In relation to any commodity in
packed form, means a person who produces,makes
or manufacture such commodity.

 PACKER: Means a person who,or a firm or Hindu

undivided family, which pre packs any commodity,
whether in any bottle,tin,wrapper.

 WHOLESALE DEALER: In relation to any

commodity in packed form means a dealer who
does not directly sell such commodity to any
consumer but distributes or sells such commodity
through one or more intermediaries.
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 RETAIL DEALER: In relation to any commodity, in
packed forms means a dealer who directly sells such
packages to the consumer.

 TYPES OF PACKAGES:
1. Combination package - Means a package intended
for retail sale,containing two or more individual
packages or pieces, of dissimilar commodities e.g.
spoon & knife together.
2. Group package - Means a package intended for
retail sale containing two or more individual packages/
pieces, of similar but not identical (whether in quantity
or size) e.g.different brand of soaps together.

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 3. Multi piece package - Means a package containing
two or more individually packed or labeled pieces of
the same commodities of identical quantity, intended
for retail sale,either in individual pieces or the package
as a whole e.g. a package containing 6 pieces of
Chyawanprash, net weight 500 gms each,total net
weight 3000 gms is a multi-piece package .
 4. Deceptive package - Means a package which is so
designed as to deliberately given to the consumer an
exaggerated or misleading impression as to the
quantity of the commodity containing therein, except
where bigger dimensions of the package can be justify
by the manufacturer or the packers, on the ground that
such dimension are necessary for given protection to
the commodity contained in such package or for the
meeting the requirement of the m/c used for filling.
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 5. Retail package - Means a package containing any
commodity which is produced,distributed,displayed,
delivered or stored for sale through retail sale
agencies.

 6. Wholesale package - Means a package

a)intended for sale,distribution or delivery to a
intermediary and is not intended for sale direct to a
single consumer.
b) A commodity sold to an intermediary in bulk to
enable such intermediary to sell, distribute or deliver
such commodity to the consumer in similar quantities.
c) Packages containing ten or more than ten retail
packages provided that the retail packages are
labeled as required under the rules.
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 Retail sale price- means the maximum price at which
the commodity in packaged form may be sold to the
ultimate consumer and where such price is mentioned
on the package, there shall be printed on the
packages the word(Maximum or Max, retail
prices)….inclusive of all taxes ( or in the form MRP
Rs…..inclusive of all taxes)
 Principal display panel- in relation to a package,
means the total area of the package where the
information required under these rules are to be given.
This information could be given in the following
manner:-
a) all the information could be grouped together and
given at one place:or
b) the pre-printed information could be grouped
together and given at one place.
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c) on line information grouped together in other place.
 Maximum permissible error- means an error in
deficiency or excess which, subject to the provision of
these rules, does not exceed-
1. In relation to the commodities not specified in the
first schedule, the limits of error specified in the
second schedule.
 THE SECOND SCHEDULE
SL. No. Declared quantity MPE in excess or
 (g or ml ) deficiency
 percentage g or ml
1 upto 50 9 -
2 50 to 100 - 4.5
3 100 to 200 4.5 -
4 200 to 300 - 9
5 300 to 500 3 -
6 500 to 1000 - 15
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 7 1000 to 10000 1.5 -
8 10000 to 15000 - 150
9 More than 15000 1.0 -


 THE SIXTH SCHEDULE

 Commodities intended to be sold by number shall be

packed in the following manner :-
a) Less than 10 - By the integral number.
b) 10 to 100 - Multiple of 5
c) 100 to 500 - Multiple of 10
d) 500 to 1000 - Multiple of 50
e) More than 1000 - Multiple of 100

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 Declaration to be made on every package-
1. Every package shall bear thereon or on a label:
A) the name and address of the manufacturer or where the
manufacturer is not a packer, the name and address of the
manufacturer & packer.
B) the common or generic names of the commodity
contained in the package.
C) the net quantity, in term of the standard unit of weight or
measure, of the commodity contained in the package or sold
by the number, the number of the commodity.
D) the month and year in which the commodity is
manufactured or pre- packs.
F) the sale price of the package.
2. The declaration of quantity shall not contain any word or
expression which tends to create an exaggerated,misleading
or inadequate impression as to the quantity of the package,
for example: a) “minimum”, “not less than”, “average”,
“about”, “approximately”…..etc Jump to first page
Declaration applicable to wholesale
packages
Every wholesale package shall bear the followings
(a) The name & address of the manufacturer or the packer

(b) The identity of the commodity contained in the package

(c) The total no of retail packages contained in it.

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 Additional declaration to be made on
combination package/ Group package/
Multi-piece package
 1. A combination package shall contain in addition to
the declaration required to be made, an indication of
the net weight, measure or number, as the case may
be,in respect of each commodity contained in the
package and the sale price of the combination
package.
 2. If individual pieces contained in the package do
not carry retail price, it shall carry a declaration that
they are not intended for retail sale.
 3. In case of group package no.of each commodity
contained in such package and total no. of pieces
contained in the group package.
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 4. In case of multi piece package if individual pieces,
are packed or labeled separately and are capable of
being sold separately each piece shall bear thereon a
declaration as the quantity and the sale price thereof.

 Registration of shorter address permissible :-

It shall be lawful for any manufacturer or packer to
make an application to the director for the registration
of the shorter address.

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 Exemptions.

 a) The marking on the package unambiguously

indicates that it has been specially packed for the
exclusive use of any industry as a raw material or for
the purpose of servicing any industry,mine and quarry.
 b) The net weight or measure of the commodity is
twenty grams or twenty milliliters or less, if sold by
weight or measure.
 Any package containing fast food items packed by
restaurant/hotel.
 Drugs covered under the Drugs(Price control) order
1955
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