BENGALURU, June 6 (Reuters) - India has ordered cooking oil makers and importers to sell their products only in a fixed set of pack sizes, a move the government said on Saturday would help shoppers compare prices across brands more easily.
The order targets a common pricing tactic in the world's most populous nation, where oils sold in odd, non-standard sizes leave buyers unable to tell which brand offers the best value for a kitchen staple.
Here are the details:
o Packaging will be limited to nine standard sizes ranging from 200 millilitres to 20 litres, replacing the varied volumes currently available.
o The rules apply to both domestically produced and imported edible oils, and cover major varieties including palm, soybean, sunflower, mustard and groundnut.
o Companies have been given three months to switch to the new sizes.
o Packages that declare their contents by volume must also state the equivalent weight, a step the government said would further aid price comparison.
o Containers smaller than 200 millilitres and minor edible oils have been exempted to keep affordable small packs on shelves.
o The decision followed consultations with industry associations representing nearly 90% of India's edible oil sector, the Department of Consumer Affairs said.
(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru)
