New Delhi The government on Thursday notified unified packaging standards for 19 FMCG products which prohibit companies from selling products in irregular sizes. According to a food and consumer affairs ministry notification, about 19 products, including baby food, biscuits, bread, cereals, pulses, coffee, tea, edible oil, milk power, flour, salt and soap would, henceforth, be sold in only prescribed packages. FE was first to report in May on the government proposal prohibiting selling of FMCG products in irregular sizes such as like 65, 73, 85, 92, 175, 425 (gram or millilitre, whichever is applicable) However non-standard packs which have already been manufactured and packed on or before October 31 and are ready for sale in different retail outlets, have been exempted from penal action. After the implementation of the packaged commodities rules, 2011, tea or coffee can only be retailed in 25 gm, 50 gm, 100 gm, 500 gm, 1 kg and in multiple of 1 kg pack sizes as opposed to 425 or 712 gm currently sold by many manufacturers. For categories that include detergents, milk powder and baby food, among others, above 50 gm must be in multiples of 100 gm and below it will need to be multiples of 10 gm. Categories like detergents, tea, coffee, soaps are expected to face the brunt of the new rules as sold in varied weights. Earlier, the food ministry wanted to implement the new packaging orders from July 31. However, after companies sought more time, the deadline for new standards were extended by three months. However, FMCG players have been opposed to the new norms. Speaking to FE, most stakeholders and heads of leading FMCG firms questioned the norms on one account or the other.