The Government issued a vital Notification clarifying that Garments or Hosiery products, sold in Loose form, will not be covered under the provisions of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, subject to providing a few details. Most importantly, the Notification gives a clear definition of a “loose” Garment as one sold loose or open at the point of sale in such manner that the consumer can inspect the products before buying.
CMAI has been representing to the concerned Ministries for years now that Garments by their very nature – these can be seen, touched, felt, and even tried on in most cases – should not be included in the ambit of a “packaged” commodity, where the Consumer buys the product in a sealed condition without having the opportunity to see, examine, or test the communicated parameters.
“By giving a precise description of what constitutes a loose garment, the Government has addressed a long standing grievance of the Industry, and will hopefully minimise and even eliminate the Inspector Harassment faced by the Industry” expressed Rajesh Masand, President, CMAI.
“The other crucial clarification included in the current Notification is that the Garment should be in a loose form as defined in the Notification, at the point of purchase by the Consumer – again issuing a clarification that goods being in a packed form for safety or hygiene consideration during storage and transit before it reaches the point of purchase will not be considered as ‘packed’ “added Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor and Past President, CMAI.
CMAI at the same time welcomed the details required to be indicated on the Garments such as MRP, Internationally accepted Size Indicators, Name of the Manufacturer or Marketer or Importer, as well as Contact details of Consumer Care, which will offer protection to the Consumer.
This Notification has been issued by the Government as a result of years of representations by the Industry, and in particular by The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers Association (FOHMA).
CMAI wholeheartedly thanks the Minister of Consumer Affairs, who is also the Minister of Textiles, Piyush Goyal, for taking this step which will go a long way in improving the Ease of Doing Business in the Garment and Retail Industry.
