The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 has been passed by the Parliament of India on January 13, 2010. The related rules are

  • The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
  • The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
  • The legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011
  • The legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011
  • The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011
  • The Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011

The new Act & Rules will replace the old Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and Standards of Weights and Measures (Enf) Act, 1985.

Salient features

1. The new Act stresses the importance of the usage of standard unit and symbols - like kilogram (kg), carat (c), milligram (mg), litre (l), tonne (t), metre (m) etc.

2. Manufacturing, selling or importing pre-packaged commodities without mandatory declarations as per rule 6 of LM (PC) Rules, 2011 - Sec 18(1) r/w 36(1) Fine of Rs 25,000 for the first offense. Fine upto Rs 50,000 for 2nd offense and Rs. 50,000 to 1,00,000 for subsequent offense and or 1 year imprisonment.

3. A manufacturer may repair his own weight or measure in a state where he holds no license.

4. Appointment of Government approved Test Centers for verification of weights and measures.

Consumer Protection is the main motto of Legal Metrology Department.