LMPC registration under Rule 27(1) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 is mandatory for all cosmetics importers and domestic manufacturers before import clearance or retail distribution.
Every pre-packaged cosmetic product entering or manufactured for retail sale in India triggers an obligation under Rule 27(1) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. Before your first shipment clears customs, or before your first domestic batch reaches a retailer, LMPC registration must be in place. Operating without it exposes you to product seizure, customs holds, and penalties under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
This guide covers the registration requirement, the application process, mandatory package declarations, the 2017 amendment changes that remain in force, and the penalty structure for non-compliance.
Rule 27(1) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 is unambiguous: every individual, firm, Hindu undivided family, society, company, or corporation that pre-packs or imports any commodity for sale, distribution, or delivery must make an application for registration to the Controller of Legal Metrology in the relevant state.
This covers three categories:
Importers — any entity bringing pre-packaged cosmetics into India for retail sale or distribution. Registration must be obtained before customs clearance. The importer's name, address with PIN code, and the country of origin must appear on every package.
Manufacturers and packers — domestic entities pre-packaging cosmetics for retail sale in India. Registration is required under the same Rule 27(1) before goods enter trade channels.
Who does not register — retailers and dealers who do not pre-pack goods are not required to register. Rule 26(a) provides a categorical exemption for packages with net weight or measure of 10 grams or 10 millilitres or less. Rule 3(b) excludes packaged commodities intended exclusively for industrial or institutional consumers from the Chapter II declaration provisions.
Genuine non-commercial samples not intended for sale or distribution do not trigger the registration obligation under Rule 27(1), as the Rule applies specifically to commodities pre-packed or imported "for sale, distribution or delivery."
Every pre-packaged cosmetic product must carry the following declarations, each traceable to a specific clause of Rule 6 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011:
Rule 6(1)(a) — Name and address of the manufacturer. Where the manufacturer is not the packer, both must be named. For imported products, the name and address of the importer is mandatory in addition to the manufacturer.
Rule 6(1)(aa) — Country of origin, manufacture, or assembly for imported products. This clause was inserted by the 2017 Amendment and is non-negotiable for all imported cosmetics.
Rule 6(1)(b) — Common or generic name of the commodity.
Rule 6(1)(c) — Net quantity in standard units of weight, measure, or number.
Rule 6(1)(d) — Month and year of manufacture, pre-packing, or import. A specific proviso to this clause directs that for packages containing cosmetics, the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 apply — meaning the date of manufacture and best before / expiry date requirements under those Rules govern, not a standalone Legal Metrology declaration.
Rule 6(1)(e) — Maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes, in Indian rupees. The 2017 Amendment standardised the declaration format: "Maximum or Max. retail price Rs. xx.xx (inclusive of all taxes)" or "MRP Rs. xx.xx incl. of all taxes." Paise must be rounded to the nearest rupee or 50 paise.
Rule 6(8) — Every package containing shampoos, soaps, toothpastes, and other cosmetics and toiletries must bear a red or brown dot for non-vegetarian origin products, and a green dot for vegetarian origin products, at the top of the principal display panel. This was inserted by the 2014 Amendment.
A complete address under the 2017 Amendment to Rule 10(1) Explanation 1 must include the full postal address with PIN code, sufficient to identify and locate the manufacturer, packer, or importer.
LMPC registration is issued by the Controller of Legal Metrology at the state level. There is no central portal; each state operates its own. Delhi-based importers apply through the Department of Economics and Statistics portal. Applications follow the Form prescribed under Rule 27.
Step 1 — Prepare the document set. The standard document requirement across states includes: Import Export Code (IEC), GST registration certificate, PAN, address proof for the registered business premises, and compliant label artwork or packaging samples showing all Rule 6 declarations in the correct format.
Step 2 — Submit the application. File the Rule 27 Form through the relevant state portal with self-attested copies of all documents. The government registration fee is ₹500, payable online. This is the statutory fee under Rule 27(1); professional service charges from consultants are separate and not a government requirement.
Step 3 — Verification and inspection. The state Controller's office reviews the application and may call for physical inspection of premises or packaging samples. Address any queries within the timeframe stipulated in the state's intimation.
Step 4 — Certificate issuance. Processing takes 7 to 20 days across most states from the date of complete application submission.
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 do not specify a fixed validity period or renewal obligation in Rules 27, 28, or 29 governing registration. In practice, state Controllers apply renewal cycles ranging from one to five years depending on state-level administrative practice. Apply for renewal 30 to 60 days before the expiry date indicated on your certificate, through the same state portal, with updated documents and the applicable renewal fee.
Item | Detail
Government registration fee | ₹500 (Rule 27(1))
Fee breakdown | Flat rate — no turnover-based slabs
Issuing authority | State Controller of Legal Metrology
Processing timeline | 7–20 working days from complete submission
Renewal | As per state certificate validity; apply 30–60 days before expiry
Non-compliant package declarations — Section 36(1) of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 applies. Manufacturing, packing, importing, or selling a pre-packaged commodity that does not conform to the mandatory declaration requirements carries a fine of up to ₹25,000 for the first offence. A second offence carries a fine up to ₹50,000. Subsequent offences carry a fine between ₹50,000 and ₹1,00,000, or imprisonment up to one year, or both.
Operating without LMPC registration — Rule 32 of the Packaged Commodities Rules (as substituted by the 2017 Amendment) governs contraventions of the Rules for which no specific punishment is prescribed. The penalty is ₹5,000. Additionally, customs authorities enforce LMPC status at the point of import clearance; shipments without valid registration face customs holds and potential seizure.
LMPC registration under Rule 27(1) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 is a pre-condition for import clearance and domestic retail distribution of pre-packaged cosmetics in India. Non-compliance triggers penalties under Section 36 of the Act and customs enforcement at the import stage.
Cosmetics Consultants India manages LMPC registration as part of the Legal Metrology compliance scope — coordinating state-level applications, verifying label artwork against Rule 6 declarations, and integrating LMPC compliance with COS-1 import licensing requirements. Contact us to initiate the process.
COS-1 is the mandatory import Registration Certificate for all cosmetics from non-SAARC countries under Rule 12(1) of the Cosmetics Rules 2020. We manage the full application — Second Schedule, Letter of Authorization, fee calculation, and SUGAM portal filing.
Learn more →Rule 34 of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020 governs every mandatory label declaration for imported cosmetics in India — from RC number and INCI ingredients list to expiry date format and net contents. Full compliance reference with inner vs. outer label obligations.
Learn more →Legal Metrology compliance under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011 applies to every cosmetics business in India — covering LMPC registration, Rule 6 package declarations, and MRP enforcement.
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