Home > Legal Metrology

Introduction:

(i) Legal Metrology is the application of legal requirements to measurements and measuring instruments. (ii) The objective of Legal Metrology is to ensure public guarantee from the point of view of security and accuracy of the weighments and measurements.

Legislation:

Legal Metrology (LM) Act, 2009

• The Legal Metrology Act was enacted during 2009 to establish standards of weights and measures.
• Prior to that, there were Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules 1977.
• Thereafter, Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act was enacted during the year 1985 with some modifications for inter-state trade and commerce in weights and measures.
• To overcome confusion and anomalies, the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 came into force.
• At Central level, the Act is enforced by the Department of Consumers Affairs, Ministry of Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, headed by the Director, Legal Metrology and the officers under him for intra-state trade and commerce.
• At State level, it is enforced by the Controller of Legal Metrology and officers under him for inter-state trade and commerce.

Some Provisions of the Act:

• One has to manufacture, pack, import, distribute or sell any pre-packaged commodity in accordance to the quantity or number in standard weight or measure as prescribed in the Act or rules made there under.
• Non-compliance of any provision of the Act attracts punishment with imprisonment as well as fine depending upon the offence.
• The provisions of the Act do not apply for scientific investigation or research or a commodity manufactured exclusively for export.

Packaged Commodities (PC) Rules:

• The Rules were framed during 2011 to enforce the LM Act.
• All the necessary declarations and manner of declarations on pre-packaged commodities are prescribed under the Rules.
• Following declarations are mandatory as per the PC Rules

1. Name of the commodity
2. Name & address of manufacturer/ packer/importer
3. Net quantity in standards weight, volume or number
4. Month & year of manufacturing/packing
5. Maximum retail price (MRP) inclusive of all taxes
6. Consumers Complaint contact details

Manner of Declaration:

• All the declarations to be made on Principal Display Panel (PDP).
• There is minimum area prescribed for PDP, which excludes top or bottom of a can or neck of a bottle.
• The minimum height and width of letters as well as numerals for declarations on the containers have also been prescribed.
• No sticker is allowed, except declaration of lower MRP, without removing original MRP.

Standard Quality Specified:

• There are quantities specified in standards weights and measures for various commodities, including many food products like biscuits, baby foods, edible oils, soft drinks, etc., under Second  Schedule of the PC Rules.
• There are permissible errors in Net quantity prescribed for different pack sizes laid down under First Schedule of the PC  Rules.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Company Registration
• Commodity/Packing Registration
• Stamping of Weights & Measures

Download, Read & Share: Act, Packaged Commodities Rules, Amendment Rules etc.

To Stay update with Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) related news, please Chat with us Ask The Expert.