New Delhi, 21st January, 2026: We have received grievances that in several parts of the country cigarette packets are being sold above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) printed on the packages.
The Tobacco Institute of India (TII) would like to inform that sale of packaged goods (including cigarettes) at a price above MRP is illegal and violative of the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (LM Act) and rules thereunder.
TII requests the trade to sell cigarette packets at prices that do not exceed the MRP.
The recent increase in taxes on cigarettes (which is being cited by some as a justification for sale of cigarettes above MRP) does not come into force until 1st February 2026. Even when the taxes are increased, the members of the trade are expected to meet such tax obligations by selling the packaged goods at prices not exceeding the MRP.
All concerned are advised to sell cigarettes at prices not exceeding the MRP.