The government suggested requiring e-commerce sites to offer searchable and sortable filters based on the “Country of Origin” for packaged goods sold online on monday.

According to a statement from the customer Affairs Ministry, the action will improve online buying transparency and customer empowerment. Another significant step toward creating an open, competitive, and consumer-friendly e-commerce ecosystem that supports national priorities and increases consumer confidence in online markets is this proposed change.

In the Draft Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) (Second) Amendment Rules, 2025, the Department of Consumer Affairs proposed requiring the “Country of Origin” filter to be used online.

Stakeholders have until November 22 to provide feedback on the draft amendment regulations, which are available for public review on the Department’s website.

“The amendment seeks to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions by allowing them to easily identify the origin of products while shopping online,” the ministry stated.

Customers will be able to search and categorize products by their nation of origin thanks to the proposed feature, which would improve transparency and cut down on the time needed to find such information across large product listings.

The phrase “Provided that every e-commerce entity selling imported products shall provide a searchable and sortable filter for the country of origin, with their product listings” should be added to rule 6, sub-rule (10) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.

The ministry claims that by making “Made in India” products easily accessible, guaranteeing a level playing field for domestic manufacturers, assisting domestic products in gaining equal visibility alongside imported goods, and encouraging consumers to choose locally made alternatives, the amendment supports the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Vocal for Local” initiatives.

The ministry added that the implementation of country-of-origin filters will help effectively monitor compliance, confirm product details, and spot infractions without necessitating a manual inspection of every listing.