The LM(PC) Rules 2011 mandate MRP, net quantity, country of origin, and importer address declarations on all pre-packaged cosmetics sold in India. Compliance is enforced independently of CDSCO by state Legal Metrology Officers.
Every pre-packaged cosmetic sold in India carries two distinct labelling obligations. The Cosmetics Rules 2020 govern what CDSCO requires for product safety and regulatory compliance. The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 — made under the Legal Metrology Act 2009 — govern what the Ministry of Consumer Affairs requires for consumer protection: net quantity, retail price, and the identity of the entity responsible for placing the product on the Indian market. Both apply simultaneously. Neither exempts a manufacturer or importer from the other.
This page covers the LM(PC) Rules 2011 in full — the mandatory declarations, the MRP format requirement, net quantity expression for different cosmetic formats, the LMPC registration obligation for importers, and how these requirements sit alongside Rule 34 of the Cosmetics Rules 2020.
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 (LM(PC) Rules) were notified under the Legal Metrology Act 2009. They apply to every pre-packaged commodity sold in India — defined as any commodity packed or made up in advance for sale, distribution, or delivery without the buyer being present during the packing process.
All pre-packaged cosmetics fall within scope. There is no category exemption for cosmetics. The 2017 amendment (GSR 629(E), 23 June 2017) updated the Rules substantially, including inserting a mandatory country of origin declaration and codifying the MRP format requirement.
The Rules apply to:
- Foreign manufacturers whose products are imported and sold in pre-packaged form in India
- Indian importers who repack or sell imported pre-packaged cosmetics
- Indian manufacturers of pre-packaged cosmetics sold at retail
- E-commerce entities selling pre-packaged cosmetics, under Rule 6(10) inserted by the 2017 amendment
The LM(PC) Rules do not apply to packages with net weight or volume of 10 grams or 10 millilitres or less (Rule 26). For packages between 10g/10ml and 20g/20ml, MRP and net quantity declarations remain mandatory even if other declarations are partially relaxed.
Rule 6(1) of the LM(PC) Rules 2011 requires that every pre-packaged commodity bear the following declarations in a definite, plain, and conspicuous manner on the principal display panel:
Rule 6(1)(a) — Name and address of manufacturer, packer, or importer
For imported cosmetics, the name and complete address of the Indian importer must appear on the package. "Complete address" under the 2017 amendment means: street, premises number (if any), city, state, and PIN code — sufficient for a consumer to identify and locate the importer. A city and state alone does not satisfy the requirement.
Rule 6(1)(aa) — Country of origin *(inserted by 2017 amendment)*
For imported products, the country of origin, manufacture, or assembly must be declared. This is a standalone mandatory declaration — it cannot be folded into the importer address line.
Rule 6(1)(b) — Common or generic name of the commodity
The product category description: shampoo, face cream, lipstick, body lotion. Not the brand name — the functional identity of the product.
Rule 6(1)(c) — Net quantity in standard units
Weight or volume of the product, expressed in the units specified by Rule 12 and the applicable Schedule. Covered in detail in the section below.
Rule 6(1)(d) — Month and year of manufacture, packing, or import
For perishable commodities — which includes most cosmetics — the 2017 amendment added a requirement to declare the "best before or use by" date (month and year). For cosmetics with a shelf life of 30 months or less, this is mandatory. Products with a shelf life exceeding 30 months are covered by the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol requirement under Rule 34 of the Cosmetics Rules 2020, which operates separately.
Rule 6(1)(e) — Maximum Retail Price (MRP)
The retail sale price, declared in the format mandated by the 2017 amendment. Covered in full below.
Rule 6(8) — Vegetarian/Non-Vegetarian origin dot *(inserted by 2014 amendment)*
Soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, and other cosmetics and toiletries must bear a green dot (vegetarian origin) or brown dot (non-vegetarian origin) at the top of the principal display panel. This requirement applies regardless of whether the product is imported or domestically manufactured.
Rule 6(1)(e), as substituted by the 2017 amendment, specifies that MRP must be declared inclusive of all taxes. The mandated prefix formats are:
- Maximum or Max. retail price Rs. [amount] (inclusive of all taxes)
- Maximum or Max. retail price Rs. [amount] inclusive of all taxes
- MRP Rs. [amount] incl. of all taxes
- MRP Rs. [amount] (incl. of all taxes)
The amount must be in rupees and paise, rounded to the nearest rupee or 50 paise. A price of ₹249.30 rounds to ₹249.00; a price of ₹249.60 rounds to ₹249.50.
No alternative format is compliant. Declaring "MRP: ₹299" without the inclusive-of-all-taxes qualifier fails the requirement. Declaring only a base price before GST fails the requirement. The numeral size for MRP must meet the minimum height requirements in Table I of Rule 7 and must contrast conspicuously with the background under Rule 6(2)(b).
Rule 18(2A), inserted by the 2017 amendment, prohibits declaring different MRPs on identical pre-packaged commodities. A product with a single SKU must carry a single MRP across all packaging.
Rule 6(1)(c) and Rule 12(2) govern net quantity expression. The general rule is: solids and semi-solids by mass (grams/kilograms), liquids by volume (millilitres/litres). Cosmetics are listed in the Fourth Schedule as an exception to this general rule — meaning cosmetics including creams, shampoos, lotions, and perfumes may be declared by weight or volume regardless of physical form.
In practice:
Product Format | Permitted Declaration | Common Practice
Liquid (shampoo, toner, serum) | Volume (ml/l) or weight (g/kg) | Volume
Semi-solid (cream, gel, mask) | Weight (g/kg) or volume (ml/l) | Weight
Powder (face powder, setting powder) | Weight (g/kg) | Weight
Aerosol/spray | Volume (ml/l) or weight (g/kg) | Weight (net content)
Solid (soap bar, lipstick) | Weight (g/kg) | Weight
The flexibility exists under the Fourth Schedule, but once a declaration is made on a specific SKU, it must be consistent across all units of that batch. Dual declarations — net weight and net volume on the same package — are permitted at the manufacturer or importer's option under Rule 12(3) but are not required.
Permissible errors in net quantity (the maximum allowable deviation between declared and actual content) are set out in the First Schedule. For imported cosmetics, the declared quantity must be verified against the First Schedule tolerances before clearance.
Rule 27 of the LM(PC) Rules 2011 requires every individual, firm, or company that imports any pre-packaged commodity for sale, distribution, or delivery in India to register with the Director or Controller of Legal Metrology before commencing import activity.
This is not optional and it is not post-import. Customs clearance for pre-packaged cosmetics requires a valid LMPC registration certificate. Without it, the consignment cannot be cleared.
The registration is obtained from the Legal Metrology department of the state in which the importer is registered. The application is accompanied by a fee of ₹500. The certificate, once granted, confirms the importer's compliance with the declaration requirements of the LM(PC) Rules and authorises import of pre-packaged goods for retail sale.
For foreign manufacturers selling into India through a third-party Indian importer, LMPC registration is the importer's obligation — not the manufacturer's. For foreign brands who have appointed an authorised agent under the Cosmetics Rules 2020, the authorised agent carrying the import registration obligation must also hold a valid LMPC certificate if the products are imported in pre-packaged retail form.
A detailed breakdown of the LMPC registration process — documents required, state-specific timelines, and fee structure — is covered on the LMPC Registration page.
The LM(PC) Rules 2011 and Rule 34 of the Cosmetics Rules 2020 are additive, not duplicative. They are issued under separate statutes, enforced by different authorities, and cover different aspects of the label.
Rule 6(1) of the LM(PC) Rules explicitly acknowledges this by providing that for packages containing cosmetics, the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules (now Cosmetics Rules 2020) shall also apply. The two instruments occupy distinct regulatory space:
Requirement | LM(PC) Rules 2011 | Cosmetics Rules 2020 (Rule 34)
MRP (incl. all taxes) | Mandatory | Not covered
Net quantity | Mandatory | Mandatory (overlap)
Country of origin | Mandatory (Rule 6(1)(aa)) | Not separately required
Vegetarian/non-vegetarian dot | Mandatory (Rule 6(8)) | Not covered
INCI ingredient list | Not covered | Mandatory (Second Schedule, Part I, Clause 3(a))
Manufacturer name/address | Mandatory | Mandatory (overlap)
CDSCO registration number | Not covered | Mandatory
Batch number | Not covered | Mandatory
Claims compliance | Not covered | Governed by Rule 36
Where requirements overlap — net quantity and manufacturer name — both instruments must be satisfied simultaneously. A single declaration that satisfies both is sufficient; there is no requirement to repeat the declaration.
The practical implication: a cosmetic label designed only against Rule 34 will not satisfy the LM(PC) Rules. A label designed only against the LM(PC) Rules will not pass CDSCO scrutiny. Both must be addressed during artwork development.
For a full breakdown of the Rule 34 labelling requirements, see the CDSCO Label Requirements page.
Non-compliance with the mandatory declaration requirements exposes the importer, manufacturer, or packer to penalties under Section 36 of the Legal Metrology Act 2009:
- First offence: fine up to ₹25,000
- Second offence: fine up to ₹50,000
- Subsequent offences: fine between ₹50,000 and ₹1,00,000, or imprisonment up to one year, or both
Goods that do not conform to the mandatory declarations are liable to seizure by Legal Metrology Officers. For imported consignments, non-compliant packaging identified at customs results in clearance denial — the consignment cannot enter the Indian market until the non-conformity is resolved, which in practice means re-packing or relabelling in a bonded warehouse.
Non-registration under Rule 27 (absence of LMPC certificate) carries a fine of ₹5,000 under Rule 32, as substituted by the 2017 amendment.
The LM(PC) Rules 2011 add a layer of mandatory declarations to every pre-packaged cosmetic sold in India that sits entirely outside CDSCO's remit. Getting the Rule 34 label right does not satisfy these requirements. Getting the LM(PC) declarations right does not satisfy Rule 34. Both must be addressed, simultaneously, during packaging development.
Cosmetics Consultants India reviews cosmetic artwork against both instruments — CDSCO labelling requirements and LM(PC) Rules declarations — as part of the Label Review Service. Contact us before artwork is finalised to avoid clearance-stage corrections.
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.
Learn more →Pre-submission label audit against Rule 34, IS 4707, and CDSCO non-compliance requirements. Every defect identified before your application reaches the portal.
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.
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