The 2006 amendment to the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977, has allowed manufacturers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) to make a killing by reducing its packaged weight, but keeping the price unchanged. Puneites Speak Up on the issue
Both consumers and govt should be alert to safeguard consumer rights
I agree that nowadays FMCG products do not maintain standard weights, and the companies are doing it to gain more profits. But I feel that consumers are equally responsible for such malpractices. They should thoroughly check the price and weight of the products they are buying.
As per the rules, shopkeepers cannot charge more than the maximum retail price (MRP) printed on the products, but packaged food products, cold drinks and mineral water bottles are priced above the MRP at malls on expressway or other places in the city. Is it not the responsibility of the government department to keep a check on these malpractices? Both consumers and government have to be alert in order to safeguard consumer rights.
—Danyanraj Santh, secretary, Grahak Hitvardhini
Consumers should carefully read the declaration on the packages
There are two ways of looking at different weights of FMCG products. The rules of the weights and measures department are crystal clear. But the big problem faced by retailers and shopkeepers is tendering exact change to customers.
To overcome this challenge and make the products more affordable, the companies usually position the products at certain prices. The prices of commodities are rising so rapidly that they are going beyond the reach of consumers. Therefore, companies are framing the weight and prices of products at less stock keeping units (SKU).
On the consumer’s part, it is important that they carefully read and understand the declaration on the packages, which gives information about the price, weight, date of manufacturing and expiry date. Generally, consumers buy products without reading these declarations. It is important that we inculcate these habits in our consumers.
—Harsh Koshti, business development manager, Tetra Pack India
The manufacturers mislead the consumers with false information
As a consumer, we don’t pay much attention to weights that are printed on packaged goods. We are more concerned with the change in prices. If the companies are reducing the weights and not the prices, and are not conveying the message to the consumers, it is wrong and as good as cheating consumers.
I have observed that many advertisements show certain products weighing 100 / 200 / 250 gm, but in reality the weights are not the same. The companies mislead the consumers with false information. As a consumer, my question is why did the government bring an amendment that omitted mandatory requirement for manufacturers to maintain standard weights of products when we have a government department looking after
standardisation of weights of packaged products?
—Sangita Kalekar, homemaker
Companies are taking advantage of lack of awareness among consumers
In an attempt to draw the government’s attention to this malpractice of companies reducing the standard weight of consumer products and making profit worth crores of rupees, we had sent a letter to former Union minister for agriculture and food and civil supplies, Sharad Pawar.
The Centre in 2006 had made an amendment to the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977, allowing companies to sell their products in whatever weight they want. However, the government on October 25, 2011, issued a notice saying that they have re-amended the rule and the companies would have to follow the old rule of maintaining standard weights at 25, 50 and 100 grams. This re-amendment will come into force from July 1, 2012.
I don’t understand why the government is waiting for another six months to implement the amendment? These companies which manufacture most of these fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) are influencing government officers in their favour.
If you observe closely, these companies have neither changed the package size nor the rates; they have just reduced the weight of these products. Consumers generally do not pay attention to weights; they are more concerned with change in prices. The companies are taking advantage of the consumers’ weakness.
—Suryakant Pathak, president, Grahak Panchayat, Pune
Some firms sell same weight products at different prices
The companies are violating the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977, and are selling their products at the same price without maintaining a standard weight. Some companies even sell products of same weight at different prices. For example, a branded pav bhaji masala is available in two different packings, both weighing around 8 gm; but they are priced at Rs5 and Rs8. This goes unnoticed by consumers and they end up buying these products.
While advertising the products, the companies only emphasise the product’s price, but they don’t inform us about the reduced weights. The consumers are being cheated with all these marketing strategies. The officials of the weights and measures department are also not taking any action against these companies. The government must take stern action against companies that are involved in such practices.
—Vijay Sagar, technical officer, drdo
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