Made in India products will be easily searchable on e-commerce:Separate filter for ‘Country of Origin’ will be added, Consumer Ministry drafted rules

E-commerce platforms will now have to provide a separate ‘Country of Origin’ filter for packaged goods. This will allow customers searching for products to easily find out their origin (the country where the goods were originally made). The Department of Consumer Affairs has brought a proposal to make this mandatory. If it passes, it could be implemented from 2026. The ministry stated on Monday, November 10, that this change will be made through an amendment to the 2011 Legal Metrology Rules. The requirement to write the Country of Origin on packaged goods already exists. The new rule is being introduced to apply a filter for search on e-commerce. This will increase transparency in the digital marketplace and provide a level playing field for local manufacturers. Key points of the Consumer Ministry’s proposal The Ministry has released the Draft Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) (Second) Amendment Rules, 2025. It states that every e-commerce entity selling imported products must provide a ‘Country of Origin’ filter in product listings. These filters will be searchable and sortable, meaning users can easily apply filters to sort local or imported items. Why this proposal came, what is the background The e-commerce market is growing rapidly in India. By 2025, it has reached 3 trillion rupees, but consumers have often complained about not being able to know the origin of products. The ministry believes that a lack of transparency gives imported goods more advantage. In recent years, several consumer complaints have arisen where people struggled to find ‘Made in India’ products. The ministry noticed this and took this step to regulate the digital market. Ministry said – Emphasis on transparency and compliance The ministry stated, ‘This feature will save consumers time in locating the origin in detailed listings. Additionally, it will also help authorities. Now, instead of manual review, automated checking will be able to catch rule violations.’ These changes align with national priorities. Consumer trust will increase, and the digital ecosystem will become more competitive. A senior official stated, ‘It will be easier to verify product information, which will accelerate compliance monitoring.’ Local manufacturers will get a boost This proposal will directly support ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’. Consumers will easily find ‘Made in India’ products, which will increase the visibility of domestic goods. Experts believe that this could lead to 20-30% more sales for small and local brands, as the ‘Made in India’ category will come to the top with the filter. E-commerce ecosystem will become more competitive In the long term, these changes will make e-commerce more consumer-friendly. Companies will have to make technical changes, such as adding a new filter on platforms like Amazon, Flipkart. But being linked to national goals will provide support.