New Delhi: In a major crackdown on malpractices of soap manufacturers, government has issued a directive that grades of soaps be indicated on the label along with the Total Fatty Matter (TFM) and that the products conform to the standards laid down for the purpose.

The decision was taken at the instance of Consumer Affairs Minister Shanta Kumar when he took up the matter with the Health Ministry, official sources told reporters.

They said with the government order, toilet soap manufacturers will face legal action if they do not specify the grades of TFM in accordance with the Schedule "S" of Drugs and Cosmetic Rules (DCR).

The Consumer Affairs Minister intervened when several complaints were received of soap manufacturers cheating consumers by not specifying the grades and selling soap cakes with varied TFM in the market without any substantial price difference, they added.

Under the DCR, toilet soaps must conform to fixed standards, namely IS 2888:1983. These standards clearly specify three grades with a minimum TFM of 76, 70 and 60 per cent respectively.

The pricing of soaps has to vary in accordance with these grades which is not actually the case as market is flooded with soaps termed as "toilet" with highly variable TFM content and yet no price difference.

PTI