Handwara, Feb. 05(KNS): Legal Metrology Unit Kupwara booked a manufacturer and dealer of edible oil for manufacture, packing and sale of edible oil in violation of Section 36 (1) of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 read with the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. The edible oil packages of "Kamal Deep Brand" were found to bear smudged statutory declarations of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and manufacturing date. This practice was used to hike MRP of every single edible oil package, with 5 litre declared net quantity, from Rs. 660 to Rs. 750. Besides, date of manufacture was also changed from January 2020 to December 2020 in order to allow sale of the product beyond date of expiry. 

Department has seized the deceptive packages of the said brand of edible oil from retailers in Handwara market. Further legal proceedings are underway.

Meanwhile, a consumer alert has been sounded by Legal Metrology Unit Kupwara asking consumers to check MRP and manufacturing date on pre-packaged commodities in order to avoid gullible consumers falling prey to such malpractices.(KNS)