The Customs Department has introduced a temporary relaxation in the implementation of mandatory Maximum Retail Price (MRP) labelling for imported goods, aiming to reduce delays and ease pressure on importers and traders.
Under the new arrangement, importers will now be allowed to clear goods from customs by submitting a self-declaration of the product’s MRP at the customs point. Authorities say the move is intended to address practical problems that emerged after the government made MRP labelling compulsory for all imported goods in 2023.
The earlier rule required importers to label products with their maximum retail price before customs clearance. However, businesses had complained that the policy created serious difficulties, especially for industrial raw materials, machinery, tools, and perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables. Many shipments reportedly remained stuck at customs checkpoints because products arrived without the required labels.
According to the Customs Department, importers must now commit to attaching MRP labels before products enter the market for sale or distribution. Goods can then be released from customs based on this written declaration.
Officials said further clarification on MRP-related provisions may come through the upcoming fiscal year’s economic legislation, which is currently being prepared alongside the national budget and policy framework.
The decision is expected to provide relief to industrial sectors, food suppliers, and traders dealing with time-sensitive imports. Business groups had been urging the government to simplify the process, arguing that the strict implementation of labelling rules was disrupting trade and increasing costs.
The Customs Department has also informed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies about the revised arrangement, which traders hope will help improve import procedures and reduce bottlenecks at border points.
