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Informist, Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026

MUMBAI – The Soybean Processors Association of India has urged the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, to restore standardised packaging quantities for edible oils. Industry stakeholders believe that standard packaging sizes, rather than variable, non-standard quantities, simplify price comparisons and protect consumer interests.

"Prior to Jan. 1, 2023, edible oil packaging in India was governed by standardised net quantity norms. Manufacturers were required to sell oil only in prescribed sizes of 250 ml/g (millilitres per gram), 500 ml/g, 1 kg/litre, 5 kg/litre, and so on," the association said. Pricing was transparent and competition occurred on a level playing field, with consumers able to compare products at a glance, according to the release.

The association has also requested that a reasonable transition time be allowed for manufacturers to adjust production systems and exhaust existing packaging material stock, so that compliance does not cause undue operational disruption, it said in a release.

The government removed these standard quantity restrictions, ostensibly to provide greater freedom to manufacturers and consumers. As a well-intentioned regulatory reform, it also introduced a requirement to declare the Unit Sale Price--price per gram or ml--on packages, to enable informed consumer comparison, the release said.

A market survey of 40 edible oil pouches from different brands reveals a bewildering range of non-standard net quantities now prevalent on retail shelves. In many instances, pouches have identical physical dimensions, look visually similar but contain different quantities. "A pouch of 880 ml and a pouch of 910 ml may appear identical on the shelf," the association said. The 880 ml pouch is priced lower in absolute terms and the typical consumer--shopping on the basis of visual cues and absolute price--naturally assumes the lower-priced pouch is the better deal.

In reality, the 880 ml pouch carries a higher cost per litre, it added. Hence, the association has urged the government to restore standardised packaging sizes for edible oils.  End

Reported by Taniva Singha Roy

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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