For e-commerce industry it has been made mandatory by the centre to print the information like maximum retail price, expiry date, customer care details on the product to protect the online customers.
In June 2017, amendments in this regard has been made to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 201i by the consumer affairs ministry. Deadline of six months has been given to e-commerce companies for complying with this rule.
The consumer affairs ministry stated that the amendments made in the rules will safeguard the interest of the consumers and will provide the ease in doing the business to the companies. The rules has came into force from 1st January, 2018.
The goods displayed on the e-commerce sites should contain the required declarations provided under the rule such as MRP, manufacturing date, expiry date, net quantity, country of origin and customer care detail on the label of the product.
The ministry said that the size of letter and numeral should be increased so that it is easily readable. It has been further stated by the ministry that the rules are amendment so that no two different MRPs are printed on the identical pre-packaged commodity by the different sellers.
The bar code/QR coding on the product has been allowed on voluntary basis whereas net checking quantity has been made more scientific. Ministry added that the medical devices, declared as drugs are now also under the purview of the declarations to be made under the amended rules.
The amendments has been made in the light of the consumer complaints and the challenges and consumer protection issues with regard to the information deficit on online goods/products. Presently, only MRP is printed on the goods being sold online,
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