The legal Metrology Division of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has extended the deadline for sale of pre-GST goods with stickers of revised rates by three months to December 31. This has been announced by Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday. A notification to this effect was also issued.

The decision came after several companies and retailers body CAIT highlighted that they are still left with huge unsold stocks of pre-GST goods and need more time to clear that. After implementing GST from July 1, the government had allowed use of stickers with revised rates, alongside the printed MRP for pre-packaged items to reflect changes in selling price for three months till September 30. The unsold items had an MRP which included all taxes of pre-GST era but with the implementation of new regime, some of the final retail prices have undergone change due to increase or decrease in tax incidence.

“On packaged commodities, industry can display revised MRP due to GST implementation using sticker/ stamping/online printing up to December 31 2017”, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan tweeted. According to officials, the deadline has been extended following demand from several companies like Wipro, HPl and other non-food companies. Since food items have expiry date for consumption, there were not many representations from such companies, the official added.

“The Government hereby further permits the manufacturers or packers or importers of pre-packaged commodities to declare the changed retail price (MRP) on the unsold stock manufactured/packed/imported prior to July 1, 2017 after inclusion of the increased amount of tax due to GST, if any, in addition to the existing retail price (MRP), up to December 31, 2017,” said a Government communication. Businesses had held discussions with consumer affairs ministry regarding unsold stocks, which took up the matter with the revenue department.