Weight and Measures

Legal Metrology

1. 1
   Legal metrology means that part of metrology which treats units of weighment and measurement, methods of weighment and measurement and weighing and measuring instruments, in relation to the mandatory technical and legal requirements which have the objects of ensuring public guarantee from the point of view of security and accuracy of the weighments and measurements.
2. 2

   The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (1 of 2010) was implemented with effect from 1st April, 2011 the preamble of the act is as follows:

   An act to establish and enforce standards of weights and measures, regulate trade and commerce in weights, measures and other goods which are sold or distributed by weights, measure or number and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
3. 3
   As per section 57(1) of the Act the standards of weights and measures Act, 1976 and the Standards of weights and measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985, is hereby repealed.
4. 4
   The salient feature of the Act is as follows:
   (I) every unit of weight or measure shall be in accordance with the metric system based on the international system of units.
5. 5
   (i) length shall be the metre
   (ii) mass shall be the kilogram
   (iii) time shall be the second
   (iv) electric current shall be the ampere
   (v) thermodynamic temperature shall be the Kelvin
   (vi) luminous intensity shall be the candela
   (vii) amount of substance shall be the mole
6. 6
   Regulations of reference, secondary and working standards.
7. 7
   Regulations of weights and measures used in trade and commerce for transaction and protection.
8. 8
   Registration for importers of weights and measures.
9. 9
   Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, Ranchi.
10. 10
    Approvals of models of weights and measures.
11. 11
    Regulations of pre-packaged commodities.
12. 12
    Regulations of Government approved test centre.
13. 13
    For the implementation of Legal Metrology Act, 2009 the following rules have been framed:
    (i) Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
    (ii) Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011
    (iii) Legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2010
    (iv) Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
    (v) Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011
    (vi) Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011
    (vii) Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013
14. 14
    The State Government has also framed their State Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules for the implementation of the Act, 2009.
15. 15
    There are the following Zonal offices / institute / laboratories in the field of Legal Metrology.
    
    (i) Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Ranchi — Responsible for providing training in the field of Legal Metrology.
    
    (ii) Regional Reference Standard Laboratories situated at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Faridabad and Guwahati — working as central agencies for traceability of standards.