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Several sectors including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceutical, packaged food among others are expected benefited due to this. Under the laws, in normal circumstances, relabelling or putting stickers on earlier dates are not permitted. This will be applicable to those manufacturers or packers who have to declare the month and year of manufacturing/packing under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rule, 2011.
MUMBAI: The government has allowed companies to use pre-printed packaging material stock till September 30 due to the prevailing situation of pandemic coronavirus. Several sectors including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceutical, packaged food among others are expected benefited due to this. Under the laws, in normal circumstances, relabelling or putting stickers on earlier dates are not permitted. However, keeping the current situation in mind, the exemption has been given to the companies.
“Due to the prevalent condition of COVID-19, leading to a lockdown of the whole country the manufacturing activities have come to a grinding halt,” said the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in its notification of April 17. “...the inventory of packaging material/wrapper with a pre-printed date of manufacturing is not to be exhausted within the time limit prescribed under the rules.
” The government has issued this notification to allow the use of packaging material with pre-printed dates which have expired but the packing material could not be used. Such material can be now used until September. This will be applicable to those manufacturers or packers who have to declare the month and year of manufacturing/packing under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rule, 2011.
According to Stuti Galia, Solicitor at Khaitan & Co, Ministry of Consumer Affairs has taken a pragmatic view by allowing the use of additional stickers/ online printing/ stamping for the purpose of declaring correct month and year of manufacturing/ packaging on existing pre-printed packaging material, which could not be utilized on account of COVID-19 crisis. "Use of such additional stickers was not allowed earlier," said Galia further adding that this move is hence intended to reduce administrative hassle and wastage of existing stock/inventory pre-printed packaging material.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
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