A brief overview of the Legal Metrology Act
Contents
A lot of business operations must be weighed and measured in order to perform well. In order to resolve this problem, the government established the Legal Metrology Act. By keeping clarity and transparency in the business, the Act protects the rights of consumers. Weight and measurement errors are controlled and reduced by the Legal Metrology Act. In order to ensure public assurance from a weighing & measuring perspective, it clearly defines weighing & measuring devices, units, standards and compulsory requirements.
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009, which took effect on 1st April 2011, contains the following preamble:
“In addition to introducing and imposing standards, regulating weights, measures, and other goods that are sold or distributed using weights, measures, or numbers, and other matters related to them.”
Manufacturers under Legal Metrology
The definition of a “manufacturer” in Section 2(I) of any weight or measure is one who manufactures the weight or measure or one or more parts thereof, acquires other parts of the same weight and measurement, and then claims that he or she manufactured the end product himself or itself.
Legal Metrology Documents Required for Manufacturing Licenses
- Proof of the applicant’s identity and address, including photographs.
- Document proving ownership or occupancy of the proposed property.
- Date of Birth proof for the applicant or partners.
- A partnership deed is required for partnership firms.
- Map Location
- Under Legal Metrology General Rules, 2011, the Director of Legal Metrology may grant a model approval certificate for the proposed weighing and measuring instrument.
- Machines and tools list.
- Certificate of no objection from the pollution control board.
- Affidavit stating that the applicant will abide by the legal provisions and directions of the Controller.
- VAT/CST/GST registration copy
- Document registering a factory, establishment, shop, or municipal trade license.
- A copy of the PAN
Legal Metrology Manufacturing License Registration Procedure
The following are some vital guidelines traders must follow when registering for imports or exports. Under Section 47 of the Standing of Weights & Measures Act, 1976[1], guidelines are provided for measuring weight.Under Section 47 of the Standing of Weights & Measures Act, 1976[1], guidelines are provided for measuring weight.
- An application for the essential registration of the name in the organization’s name, as well as the reorganization of the registration of exporters/importers of weight and measures, must go through the Controller of Legal Metrology of the state/UT in which the exporter or importer is arranged alongside a demand draft of Rs. 10/- for “Pay & Accounts official” D/o Consumer Affairs, New Delhi.
- A list of weights or measures is defined in the Standard Rules, and only those items must be registered.
- Should it be incomplete, send it back to the Controller of Legal Metrology within seven days of receiving the application.
- In case the application is incomplete, obtain the applicant’s registration certificate within ten days of receiving it.
Legal Metrology Model Approval
The Central Legal Metrology Department must approve every model of measuring and weighing instrument that falls under its purview. Model approval applications must be submitted with a couple of models and their documentation. In addition to the application, the applicant must submit a verification and certification report from a referral laboratory.
The Central Legal Metrology Department may approve the respective device models in the detailed report submitted by the referral laboratory. A unique code is assigned to the device model upon approval. Manufacturers or importers must then include this code on labels or certificates affixed to each device they sell.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that the Legal Metrology Act has been approved to keep the weights and measures in the products under close scrutiny; only stakeholders have the authority to manufacture such products or import them with a valid license; infringements of the Act will result in criminal charges.
Read More: