Pan masala packs must display retail price, says govt

Amending the Legal Metrology Rules, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has mandated that all pan masala packs, regardless of size or weight, must display the retail sale price (RSP) on the labels.

The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Second (Amendment) Rules, 2025, were issued on Wednesday by Joint Secretary Anupam Mishra. The revised norms will take effect from February 1, 2026.

The move marks a significant shift in pricing regulations for the pan masala industry. Until now, smaller packs of 10 gm or less were exempted from displaying the RSP. The exemption has now been fully withdrawn. Once the amended rules come into force, manufacturers, packers and importers must print the RSP along with all other mandatory declarations required under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.

Officials said the amendment enhances consumer protection by ensuring that buyers were not kept in the dark regarding pricing, particularly on smaller pouches which were widely consumed and often sold without transparency. According to the ministry, the new rule would help prevent misleading pricing and enable consumers to make informed decisions by knowing the correct market price of the product.

The change is also expected to benefit tax enforcement, as the authorities will be able to seamlessly implement the GST Council’s decision to impose an RSP-based levy on pan masala. This will support proper assessment of taxes and strengthen revenue collection across pack sizes, including the smallest units where the evasion has been difficult to monitor.