As noted in the report by Secretariat, The Legal Metrology Act and The Legal Metrology (Packed Commodities Rules 2011 implemented as of 1 April 2011, replaced the Standards of Weights and Measures Act 1976, the Standard of Weights and Measures (enforcement) Act 1985 and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules 1977, which regulated labelling requirements in India. Labelling requirements are uniform across all states and for all foreign suppliers. Labels must be in Hindi (Devnagiri script) and in English, they must be written in the language of the locality where the products is ultimately sold. This increases distribution cost, since India has 16 official languages, and food processing companies often do not know which pallet of food products will be transported to a specific State.
We are of the view that the labelling requirements may create barriers to trade because it would increase distribution cost, particularly to those foreign suppliers. Hence we would like to know if the Government of India had also implemented any other policy in this regard? (WT/TPR/S/249, page 70, Para 112 and Para 114)
Reply: Rule 9(4) of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 lay down that labelling declaration on "a package" shall either be in Hindi in Devnagri script or in English. Thus, it is clear that even a single declaration in English is adequate to meet the requirements.
