Rule 6 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 6(10) makes an e-commerce entity responsible for showing the mandatory package declarations on its digital network. It also says when a marketplace can point to the seller instead, and when it cannot. The 2026 Jan Vishwas Act would change the penalty wording in section 36 to refer to digital modes of sale; that change is not in force until the Central Government notifies it.
An e-commerce entity must ensure that the mandatory declarations in rule 6(1), except the month and year of manufacture or packing, are displayed on its digital and electronic network. On a marketplace model, responsibility for correctness lies with the manufacturer, seller, dealer or importer if the entity is a passive intermediary that observes due diligence. There is no protection if it abetted the act or fails to remove material after actual knowledge or notice. The rule does not exempt the declarations on packages delivered to consumers.
The definitions behind the rule
Rule 2 defines three terms that rule 6(10) uses.
| Term | Rule 2 meaning |
|---|---|
| "E-commerce" (2(bd)) | Buying and selling of goods and services including digital products over a digital and electronic network |
| "E-commerce entity" (2(be)) | A company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 or 2013, or a foreign company covered by section 2(42) of the Companies Act, 2013, or an office, branch or agency in India covered under sub-clause (ii) of clause (v) of section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 owned or controlled by a person resident outside India, conducting e-commerce business |
| "Marketplace based model of e-commerce" (2(bf)) | Providing an information technology platform by an e-commerce entity on a digital and electronic network to act as a facilitator between buyer and seller |
These were inserted by G.S.R. 629(E) of 23 June 2017, effective 1 January 2018. The definition of "e-commerce entity" is worded by the kind of person (a company or a foreign-owned Indian office); the text does not say what happens to a sole proprietor or partnership selling online, and we do not guess. Such sellers are in any case "sellers" or "dealers" for the other rules. See rule 2.
Our FSSAI label compliance service reviews product listings alongside the physical pack, which is where this rule matters most.
The main duty
Rule 6(10) (substituted by G.S.R. 629(E) w.e.f. 1 January 2018) says an e-commerce entity shall ensure that "the mandatory declarations as specified in sub-rule (1), except the month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or packed, shall be displayed on the digital and electronic network used for e-commerce transactions".
So the online page must show the same clause (a) to (g) declarations that the pack carries, namely name and address of the manufacturer, packer or importer, country of origin for imports, generic name, net quantity, retail sale price, dimensions where relevant and any other matter the Rules specify. The month and year of manufacture or packing is the one item left out of the online duty. The text does not say that the date is banned from the page, only that the entity need not display it. The Rules as amended up to March 2022 do not spell out where on the page or how large the text must be, and we do not invent a format.
The marketplace proviso
The first proviso says that in a marketplace model, responsibility for correctness of the declarations lies with the manufacturer, seller, dealer or importer if:
- (a) the entity's function is limited to providing access to a communication system over which information made available by the manufacturer, seller, dealer or importer is transmitted or temporarily stored or hosted; or
- (b) the entity does not initiate the transmission, select the receiver, and select or modify the information; and
- (c) the entity observes due diligence while discharging its duty as an intermediary under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and such other guidelines as the Central Government may prescribe.
The printed text joins (a) and (b) with "or" and then (b) and (c) with "and". The sub-paragraphs are run together, so read the exact text carefully rather than rely on a summary. The sources do not list the "guidelines" the Central Government may prescribe, and we do not name any.
When the marketplace loses the protection
The second proviso says there is no protection for a marketplace e-commerce entity if:
- (a) it has conspired or abetted or aided or induced, by threats, promise or otherwise, the commission of the unlawful act; or
- (b) upon receiving actual knowledge, or on being notified by the appropriate Government or its agency, that any information, data or communication link residing in or connected to a computer resource it controls is being used to commit the unlawful act, it fails to expeditiously remove or disable access to that material without vitiating the evidence.
The Explanation adds that the sub-rule does not provide exemption from the declarations required on pre-packaged commodities delivered to consumers. So a marketplace can shift responsibility for the online page's correctness but not for what is on the physical pack that reaches the buyer.
The 2026 Act: section 36 and digital sales
Section 36(1) of the Act punishes dealing in a pre-packaged commodity that does not conform to the declarations on the package. The three layers are:
- As enacted in 2010: fine up to twenty-five thousand rupees; for the second offence, up to fifty thousand rupees; for the subsequent offence, not less than fifty thousand rupees but up to one lakh rupees, or imprisonment up to one year, or both.
- After the 2023 Act: the 2023 Act's Schedule item for this Act amends sections 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35 and 48; section 36 is not among them, so the 2010 text above stands.
- The 2026 Act (Act 8 of 2026), in force only from the date the Central Government notifies: substitutes sub-section (1) to cover dealing "including through digital modes of sale such as e-commerce platforms, online market places or any other digital or electronic means including electronic service providers facilitating such sales". The consequence becomes a warning with an improvement notice, then a penalty which may extend to five lakh rupees for the second offence, and for subsequent offences a fine of not less than twenty-five lakh rupees but up to fifty lakh rupees. "E-commerce" and "electronic service provider" take their meaning from clauses (16) and (17) of section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Check the notification before treating layer 3 as law. See section 36 for the full treatment and our e-commerce overview for the topical guide.
Practical examples
Example 1. A company sells its own brand of pulses on its website. As a seller it must show the name and address of the manufacturer, net quantity and retail sale price on the listing, but it need not display the month and year of manufacture.
Example 2. A marketplace hosts many sellers and only provides the platform. It is notified by an enforcement agency that a listing misstates the net quantity and does not act. Under the second proviso it loses the protection for that material.
Example 3. A seller lists a pack with correct online declarations but ships a pack with no label. The Explanation makes clear that the online display does not excuse the physical pack's declarations.
Need help with online listings?
Listings drift from the pack over time, especially on marketplaces with many sellers. Our FSSAI label compliance service can compare your listing text and images with the pack and the Rules and mark the gaps.
Key takeaways
- Rule 6(10) requires e-commerce entities to display the rule 6(1) declarations online, except the month and year of manufacture or packing.
- In a marketplace model, correctness lies with the manufacturer, seller, dealer or importer where the entity is a passive intermediary observing due diligence.
- Protection is lost for abetting, or for failing to remove material after actual knowledge or notice.
- The declarations on delivered packages are not excused.
- The 2026 Act's section 36 change is not in force until notified.
Read next
- Rule 6 of the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011: Multi-component packs, veg dot, GM and imported labels
- Rule 7 of the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011: Principal display panel
- Section 36 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Penalty for non-standard packages
- Legal Metrology compliance for online sellers
Disclaimer: Based on the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (as amended up to March 2022; check later amendments), read with the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (Act 1 of 2010), the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (in force) and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (in force only from the date the Central Government notifies), as on 30 September 2026. State Legal Metrology rules, later amendments and notifications change; verify the current position before acting.