Decision to Reintroduce Standard Pack Sizes for Edible Oils

06-Jun-2026 12:01 PM

New Delhi: Acceding to the demands of industry associations, the Central Government has decided to reintroduce the rule regarding standard pack sizes for edible oils. A formal notification to this effect was issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs on June 5, 2024, and the government's decision came into force with immediate effect. However, manufacturers and traders have been granted a three-month period to clear existing stocks. From June 5 onwards, the pack sizes of edible oils must comply with the new regulations.

The notification states that while there will be no restrictions on pack sizes below 200 grams or 200 ml, edible oils cannot be packed in quantities other than the prescribed standard sizes: 200g, 500g, 1kg, 2kg, 3kg, 4-5kg, 15kg, and 20kg.

Where the quantity is determined in liters, the standard pack sizes will be 200ml, 500ml, 1 liter, 2 liters, 3 liters, 4 liters, 5 liters, 15 liters, and 20 liters. In essence, the use of non-standard pack sizes—such as 210ml, 515ml, or 1.25 liters—has been discontinued.

This decision applies to all major edible oils—palm oil/palmolein, soybean oil, groundnut oil, mustard/rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil, sesame oil, cottonseed oil, and maize oil, as well as their blends; however, minor edible oils have been exempted from this rule, subject to certain conditions.

This new rule has formally come into effect from June 5, while it will become fully operational after three months—specifically from September 5, 2026—at which point edible oil will be available in the market only in standard pack sizes prescribed by the government.