Department of Consumer Affairs Proposes Mandatory 'Country of Origin' Filter on E-Commerce
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Institutions: Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) | Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), Government of India, has issued the Draft Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) (Second) Amendment Rules, 2025. This proposal seeks to make it mandatory for e-commerce platforms to introduce searchable and sortable filters based on the ‘Country of Origin’ for packaged commodities sold online. The proposed rule states that “every e-commerce entity selling imported products shall provide a searchable and sortable filter for the country of origin, with their product listings”.
The primary goal is to enhance consumer empowerment and transparency by allowing shoppers to easily identify the origin of products and make informed purchasing decisions. Beyond consumer welfare, the amendment directly supports the national initiatives of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’. By making ‘Made in India’ products easily discoverable, the policy aims to ensure a level playing field for domestic manufacturers and encourage consumers to choose locally made alternatives. The DoCA has published the draft for public consultation, inviting stakeholder comments until November 22, 2025.
This policy marks a strategic alignment of consumer protection regulation with national economic and industrial policy goals in the digital marketplace. Furthermore, the introduction of searchable filters will assist authorities in efficiently monitoring compliance, verifying product information, and identifying violations without needing manual review of every listing.
Follow the full news here: Department of Consumer Affairs Proposes for mandatory ‘Country of Origin’ filter on E-Commerce platforms