An extraordinary gazette making it mandatory to include specific information on soap product packaging!

An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued making it mandatory to state the name and total fat percentage of soap products available in the local market on their packaging. This order has been enacted in accordance with the powers vested under Section 10(1)(a) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003.

It has been observed that many types of soap products under various brands have been released into the local market during the recent past, and the Consumer Affairs Authority has issued these new regulations to regulate them. 

Many major soap brands popular among the local population and present in the market for many years correctly follow the relevant recommendations, and the types of ingredients contained in those products are also displayed on the packaging. However, there have been accusations that some soap product packaging found in the market does not contain any mention of the ingredients or the percentage of fatty matter contained in those products. The majority of these soap products are manufactured locally, while some soap products are reported to be imported from foreign countries. Accordingly, the name of the relevant product must be written in bold letters in all three languages, Sinhala, Tamil, and English, or in two of these languages on the main frame, and 


The other language must be noted on any other frame. The total amount of fatty matter contained in the product at the time of packaging must be printed clearly, prominently, and in bold letters no less than 2 millimeters (mm) in percentage (%). The types of soap to which this order applies (Schedule) These new regulations apply to baby soap, body soap, shaving soap, carbolic soap, laundry soap, bathing bars, and soft soap. These provisions will be effective from July 09, 2027, as per the recommendation of Mr. S.M.D. Sooriyakumara, Acting Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority.