Chapter II — Declaration of quantity

Rule 11. General provisions relating to declaration of quantity

(1) In declaring the net quantity of the commodity contained in a package, the weight of wrappers and materials other than the commodity shall be excluded.

(2) Where a commodity in a package is not likely to undergo any variation in weight or measure, on account of the environmental conditions, the quantity declared on the package shall correspond to the net quantity which will be received by the consumer, and the declaration of quantity of the commodity as declared on the package, and the declaration of quantity on such package shall not be qualified by the words 'when packed' or the like.

(3) Save as otherwise provided in sub-rule (4), where a commodity in package is likely to undergo variations in weight or measure on account of environmental conditions and such variation is negligible, the declaration of quantity in relation to such package shall be made after taking into account such variation so that the consumer may receive not less than the net quantity of the commodity as declared on the package, and the declaration of quantity on such package shall not also be qualified by the words 'when packed' or the like.

(4) The declaration of quantity in relation to commodities which are likely to undergo significant variations in weight or measures on account of environmental or other conditions may be qualified by the words "when packed", as specified in the Third Schedule.

Rule 12. Manner in which declaration of quantity shall be made

(1) The declaration of quantity shall be expressed in terms of such unit of weight, measure or number or a combination of weight, measure or number as would give an accurate and adequate information to the consumer with regard to the quantity of the commodity contained in the package.

(2) Except in the cases of commodities specified in the Fourth Schedule, the declaration of quantity shall be in terms of the unit of —

(a) mass, if the commodity is solid, semi-solid, viscous or a mixture of solid and liquid;

(b) length, if the commodity is sold by linear measure;

(c) area, if the commodity is sold by area measure;

(d) volume, if the commodity is liquid or is sold by cubic measure; or

(e) number, if the commodity is sold by number.

(3) Where the declaration of quantity has been made in terms of mass, the manufacturer or importer, as the case may be, the packer may, at his option make an additional declaration on the package as to the number of commodities contained in the package.

(4) Where the declaration of quantity by weight or measure or number is not sufficient to give to the consumer full information with regard to the dimensions or number of commodity contained in the package, such declaration shall be accompanied by a declaration of the dimensions or number, or both, where necessary, of the commodity contained in the package.

(5) Where it is necessary to communicate to the consumer any additional information about the commodity contained in a package, such information shall also appear on the same panel in which the other information, as required by these rules, have been indicated.

(6) The declaration of quantity shall not contain any word or expression which tends to create an exaggerated, misleading or inadequate impression as to the quantity of the commodity contained in the package, for example, words or expressions like — 'minimum', 'not less than', 'average', 'about', 'approximately' or other words of a similar nature.

(7) For packages having capacity 5 cubic cm or less, the declaration of quantity shall be made on a tag, card, tape, or any other similar device affixed to the container in such a manner that it cannot be removed without opening the container and every such tag, card, tape or other device shall contain mark or inscription which will enable the consumer to identity the manufacturer or packer, as the case may be.

Rule 13. Statement of units of weight, measure or number

(1) The units of weight or measure or number shall be specified in accordance with the units specified in sub-rule (2) or sub-rule (3), as the case may be.

(2) When expressing a quantity less than,—

(a) one kilogram, the unit of weight shall be the gram;

(b) one metre, the unit of length shall be the centimetre;

(c) one square metre, the unit of area shall be the square decimetre;

(d) one cubic metre, the unit of volume shall be one cubic centimetre;

(e) one cubic decimetre, the unit of volume shall be the cubic centimetre;

(f) one litre, the unit of volume shall be the millilitre.

(3) When expressing a quantity of equal to or more than —

(a) one kilogram, the unit of weight shall be the kilogram and any fraction of a kilogram shall be expressed in terms of decimal of sub-multiples of kilogram or in terms of grams;

(b) one metre, the unit of length shall be the metre and any fraction of a metre shall be expressed in terms of decimal of sub-multiples of the metre or in terms of centimetre;

(c) square metre, the unit of the area shall be the square metre and any fraction of a square metre shall be expressed in terms of decimal of sub-multiple of the square metre;

(d) cubic metre, the unit of volume shall be the cubic metre and any fraction of a cubic metre shall be expressed in terms of decimal sub-multiple of the cubic metre;

(e) one litre, the unit of volume shall be the litre and any fraction of a litre shall be expressed in terms of decimal of sub-multiple of the litre:

Provided that where the quantity to be expressed is equal to one kilogram, one metre, one square metre, one cubic decimetre, one cubic metre or one litre, as the case may be, such quantity may be expressed at the option of the manufacturer or the packer on the importer, as the case may be, in terms of gram, centimetre, square decimetre, cubic centimetre, cubic decimetre or millilitre as the case may be.

(4) No number called the dozen, score, gross, great gross or the like shall be specified or indicated on any package.

(5) (i) No system of units other than the International System of Units shall be used in furnishing the net quantity of the packages; and

(ii) For items sold by number the symbol should be N or U.

Rule 14. Declarations with regard to dimensions of certain commodities

Where a package contains commodities like bed-sheets, hemmed fabric materials, dhoties, sarees, napkins, pillow-covers, towels, table cloths or similar other commodities, the number and the dimensions of finished size of such commodities shall also be declared on the package or on the label affixed thereto:

Provided that where the package contains more than one piece of different dimensions, the package shall also contain a declaration as to the dimensions and the retail sale price of each such piece:

Provided further that the dimensions of the commodities and the sale price thereof shall also be marked on each individual piece.

Rule 15. Declaration with regard to dimensions and weight to be made on packages in certain cases

Where the dimensions and weight, or combination thereof, of a commodity has or have a relationship to the price of that commodity, the declaration of quantity on the package containing such commodity, shall also include a declaration as to such dimensions, weight or combination.

Rule 16. Declarations to be made with regard to the number of usable sheets to be stated

In the case of a package containing sheets like aluminum foil, facial tissues, waxed paper, toilet paper or any other type of sheet, the declaration of quantity on the package shall also include a statement as to the number of usable sheets contained in the package and the dimensions of each such sheet.

Rule 17. Declarations with regard to the dimensions of container type commodities

The commodities shall be expressed as bags, boxes, cups, pans or the like designed and sold in retail trade for being used as containers for other materials or objects and shall be labeled with the declaration of quantity as follows —

(i) for bag-type commodities, the number of bags which the package may contain, followed by linear dimensions of the bags, whether packaged in a perforated roll or otherwise;

(ii) for square, oblong, rectangular or similarly shaped containers, the number of containers which the package may contain, followed by length, width, and if required, depth of the container;

(iii) for circular or generally round-shaped containers, not being cups or the like the number of commodities contained therein followed by diameter and, if necessary, depth of the container;

(iv) when the use of a container is related by label references, the standard weight or measure, to the capability of the container to hold a specific quantity of commodity or a class of commodities such references shall be included in the declaration of quantity.

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