Markings on packaging of 76 goods mandatory from March next year

• CAA issues relevant Gazette making display of certain information on packaging mandatory
• Maximum Retail Price, new weight/volume, expiry date among information to be displayed

The Consumer Affairs Authority has issued a directive to all manufacturers, importers, distributors, and traders of 76 products making certain markings mandatory on all packs, containers or on the wrappers of all such articles/goods.

The directive will become operative with effect from 1 March 2021.  

The information to be displayed on the packaging includes the Maximum Retail Price, batch number, date of expiry, date of manufacture, net weight/volume, country of origin/country of manufacture and date of repacking (products which are imported in bulk and repacked or products manufactured and packed in bulk and repacked).

Among the products for which the marking will be mandatory are meat and fish products,  tea, coffee, milk powders, sugar, spices, aerated water, bottled drinking water, infant foods, ice creams, Ayurvedic/herbal products sold in packs or containers, hair oil, hair gel, hair cream, hair colouring,  shampoo, conditioner, talcum powder, cologne, body spray, body lotion including baby products, toothpaste and mouthwash liquids sold in packs or containers, transistor and torch batteries sold in packs, cement, agricultural fertiliser and agro-chemicals.

Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Maj. Gen. Shantha Dissanayake issued the directive under the powers vested in him under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 09 of 2003.

The relevant Gazette notification was issued this week.