Show revised MRP post-GST or face action, govt tells firms

Sanjeev Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 4

The government is keeping an eye on the prices and supply of goods after the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and has issued fresh guidelines for manufacturers to clearly reflect changes in the maximum retail price (MRP) of goods, so the consumers know exactly how much they are paying after the GST implementation.

The government has warned manufacturers of packaged goods that legal action will be initiated for not printing the revised MRP.

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Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the government had given three months (till September 30) to reprint the revised MRP.  The declaration of the changed retail sale price (MRP) would be made by way of stamping or putting sticker or online printing on the unsold stock or inventories, as the case may be. 

On items where the price has to be increased for the unsold stock, the manufacturer or packer or importer will have to give at least two advertisements in two or more newspapers informing the people about the change.

Meanwhile, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said small traders were not required to issue bills as they were covered under a composition scheme that required them to pay a fixed tax.

Toll, mandi charges and fee on vehicle entry into states were not subsumed in the GST and would continue to be charged by local bodies or state governments.

He said a central monitoring committee, comprising 15 top secretaries, would meet every Tuesday to take stock of the situation. Additionally, 175 officers of joint secretary and additional secretary level had been given charge of four-five districts each for the purpose, he said.