Central Excise - Chapter 24 - Approval of Specimens of wrappers, outer coverings of labels relating to Cigarette packets - Regarding - Central Excise - 18/93-CX.8

Central Excise - Chapter 24 - Approval of Specimens of wrappers, outer coverings of labels relating to Cigarette packets - Regarding Circular No. 18/93-CX.8 Dated 8-12-1993 [From F. No. 261/24/11/93-CX.8] Government of India Central Board of Excise Customs New Delhi Subject : Central Excise - Chapter 24 - Approval of Specimens of wrappers, outer coverings of labels relating to Cigarette packets - Regarding. Reference DGAE's letter No. 115/INT/HQ/DGAE/93-Pt., dated 5-8-1993 regarding approval of the design of the smoker packets wrapper and CFC keeping in view the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodity) Rules, 1977 and Rule 93 of the Central Excise Rules, 1944. The letter further mentions that individual packet of Cigarettes should be printed with the month and year of manufacture and CFC should be stencilled with particulars of serial number of CFC, operation number and the place of manufacture. 2. Representations have been received by Board regarding difficulties faced in printing of month and year of manufacture on individual packets. 3. The issue has been examined by the Board. It is observed that Board has earlier issued instructions vide F. No. 81/50/86-CX.3, dated 29-10-1986 and Circular of even number dated 31-3-1987 to the effect that such approval should be in terms of Rule 93 of Central Excise Rules, 1944. Rule 93 of Central Excise Rules, 1944, stipulates inter alia, that followiing particulars should be affixed on individual packets and CFC - (i) Name and address of the factory; (ii) the number of his licence in form L-4/registration Number. (iii) the trade brand of the product. Besides above Rule 51 of Central Excise Rules, 1944 requires that each wholesale packages (C.F.C.) should be marked containing :- (i) batch No. Lot No. (If any, to which goods pertain); (ii) running serial number which will commence from the first January of every year; (iii) the number of retail packages contained in each wholesale package, and the quantity of goods contained in each retail package; (iv) Kind and quality of goods. 4. Regarding printing the year and month of manufacture in terms of Rule 6(d) of the Standards of Weights and Measures (package Commodities) Rules, 1977, it is seen that this may require amending Rule 93 of Central Excise Rules, 1944. Further to this Rule 6(d) of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977 requires that every package shall bear there on a label securely affixed thereto the month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or prepacked. This rule does not stipulate that the month and year has to be printed. This may also lead to difficulties as the manufacturers, will have to estimate accurately the production for each month and keep to the schedule; any disruption may result in wastage of the slides and shell. 5. In view of the above, it has been decided to enforce the requirement of Rules 51 and 93 of Central Excise Rules, 1944 while granting approval for individual packets and C.F.C. As regards provisions of Standards of Weights and Measures (Packages Commodities) Rule, 1977 and whether month and year of production are indicated by printing/embossing it is for the concerned department to see whether requirements of the provisions of said rule are followed.