What is Legal Metrology?
Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. Legal metrology helps in providing standards for the control of measurements and measuring instruments. Legal metrology at the same time safeguards public safety, the environment, customers, and merchants, and it is essential for fair trade.
The sale or distribution of all packaged goods in India, such as export goods, food items, and consumer products, requires a Legal Metrology Certificate from the Metrology Department of Consumer Affairs, as per the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
Due to the advancement of science & technology, there has been vast upgrading in weighing and measuring techniques which have extended the scope of weights & measures.
Rules Set Under Legal Metrology Act
Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 - It covers about 40 different types of weighing and measuring devices, such as electronic weighing instruments, weighbridges, fuel pumps, water meters, sphygmomanometers, clinical thermometers, and so on. These weighing and measuring devices are checked on regular basis by State Government personnel using the Standard Weights and Measures and the process outlined in the Rules.
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 - It regulates the pre-packed commodities in India and mandates certain labelling requirements prior to the commodity's sale. Under this rule, some certain declarations has to be made on every package, which are as follows
- Name and address of the Manufacturer/ Packer/ Importer
- Country of origin in case of imported packages
- Common or generic name of the commodity contained in the package
- Net quantity, in terms of standard unit of weight or measure or number
- Month and year of manufacture/ pack/ import
- Retail sale price in the form of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) Rs... Inclusive of all taxes
The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011 - It's a rule framed by the Central Government under the Legal Metrology Act 2009 to define the standard measures or numbers and how the pre-packed goods shall bear the affirmations and other particulars.
The Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011 - It's a ruled frame by the Central Government to define (i) the specifications of base units of measures and base unit of mass, (ii) different standards, and (iii) times of verification of the norms.
The Legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011 - This provision is made for making numeration and how numbers should be written.
Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011 - Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, Ranchi is the training institute for furnishing training in the area of Legal Metrology to the Legal Metrology Officers of States/ UTs/ Union of India, under the executive control of this department. Under these rules, provisions regarding Courses to be communicated at the Institute, Obligatory functions of the Institute, Qualifications of persons to be eligible for admission in the Institute are specified.
The Legal Metrology (Government Approved test Centre) Rules, 2013 - The Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) Rules govern the approval of GATCs created by private individuals for the verification of certain weights and measures by State Government Officers. The weights and measures specified under these rules with regard to the verification by a GATC are:
- Water meter,
- Sphygmomanometer,
- Clinical Thermometer,
- Automatic Rail Weighbridges,
- Tape Measures,
- Non-automatic weighing instrument of Accuracy Class-IIII/ Class-III (upto 150kg),
- Load cell,
- Beam Scale,
- Counter Machine
- Weights of all Categories.
