Chapter III - Appointment and Powers of Director, Controller and Legal Metrology Officers
Section 18
Section 18: declarations on pre-packaged commodities
Section 18 requires pre-packaged commodities to meet prescribed quantity and declaration rules before they are made, packed, imported or supplied for sale. A price-bearing advertisement has its own quantity-disclosure duty.
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Need advice on Section 18?
This article is for general information. Refer to the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) No person shall manufacture, pack, sell, import, distribute, deliver, offer, expose or possess for sale any pre-packaged commodity unless such package is in such standard quantities or number and bears thereon such declarations and particulars in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) Any advertisement mentioning the retail sale price of a pre-packaged commodity shall contain a declaration as to the net quantity or number of the commodity contained in the package in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
Introduction
The Act establishes the duty, while the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, as amended, supply the detailed declarations, format and exemptions. The exact label review therefore depends on the product and the current Rules.
A physical pack, online listing and advertisement can each need a separate check. Section 18(2) specifically addresses an advertisement that mentions a pre-packaged commodity's retail sale price.
Key takeaways
Several supply-chain activities are covered
Section 18(1) covers manufacturing, packing, selling, importing, distributing, delivering, offering, exposing and possessing a pre-packaged commodity for sale.
Detailed declarations come from Rules
The Act points to prescribed standard quantities or number and package particulars; the current Packaged Commodities Rules provide the operational details.
Price advertisements have a separate duty
If an advertisement mentions the retail sale price, section 18(2) requires the net quantity or number declaration in the prescribed form and manner.
Check whether section 18 applies
First identify whether the item is a pre-packaged commodity under the Act, who is manufacturing, packing, importing or selling it, and the intended sales channel. Avoid applying a generic retail-pack checklist to every institutional or wholesale scenario.
Use the current packaged-commodities rules
Section 18 does not itself list every label field or exemption. Review the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 and later Gazette amendments for exact wording, units, placement, legibility and any commodity-specific treatment before finalising artwork.
Review online listings and advertisements
Check a physical package and an online product page separately against the applicable Rules. When an advertisement states the retail sale price, also check section 18(2)'s quantity or number declaration requirement.
Official sources
India Code Act, section 18: https://consumeraffairs.gov.in/pages/legal-metrology-act/
Department of Consumer Affairs Legal Metrology Act: https://consumeraffairs.gov.in/pages/legal-metrology-act/
Practical checklist
Do
- Classify the product and sales channel before choosing a label template.
- Check current Packaged Commodities Rules and Gazette amendments for applicable declarations.
- Review the package, e-commerce listing and price-bearing advertisement separately.
- Keep approved artwork and the rule version used for review.
Avoid
- Do not treat section 18 alone as a complete labelling checklist.
- Do not assume all pre-packaged products or buyer types have identical declarations.
- Do not publish a retail-price advertisement without checking the prescribed quantity disclosure.
Glossary
- Pre-packaged commodity
- A commodity placed in a package without the purchaser being present, so its contained quantity is predetermined, subject to the Act's definition.
- Prescribed
- Specified by applicable rules made under the Act.
- Net quantity
- The quantity of the commodity in the package, excluding packaging, as determined under applicable rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does section 18 list every required label declaration?
No. It requires declarations in the manner prescribed by the current Packaged Commodities Rules.
Does it apply only to a manufacturer?
No. Section 18(1) also addresses packing, importing, distributing, delivering and sale-related activities.
Does a price-bearing advertisement need a quantity statement?
Section 18(2) requires a net quantity or number declaration in the prescribed form and manner.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026