New E-Commerce Rules That Kicked in With 2018

The companies have to display MRP, expiry date, net quantity, consumer care on the label among other details.

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: iStock)

To protect online consumers, the Centre has made it mandatory from 1 January for e-commerce firms to print not only the maximum retail price (MRP) on goods, but also information like expiry date and customer care details.

The Consumer Affairs Ministry had made the amendments in this regard to the Legal Metrology (packaged commodities) Rules in June 2017. The companies were given a six-month deadline to comply with the new rule.

“Amendment made in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, to safeguard the interest of consumers and ease of doing business will come into force with effect from 1 January 2018,” the ministry said in a statement.

As per the amendments, goods displayed by sellers on e-commerce platforms should contain declarations required under the rules.

Along with MRP, the companies have to display the manufacturing date, expiry date, net quantity, country of origin and consumer care details on the label.

Medical devices, which are declared as drugs, are brought into the purview of declarations to be made under the rules, the ministry said.

The changes come in the backdrop of e-marketplaces posing new and complex consumer protection issues. The ministry has been receiving several complaints as regard to information deficit on online products/goods, it said.

Flipkart, Amazon India, Snapdeal, Grofers and Bigbasket are some of the leading e-marketplaces entities operating in the country.

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone]) .