Know Basic Aspects Of Legal Metrology Act

Posted by Nitin Arora on December 1st, 2020

In order to ascertain the accuracy pertaining to weight and measurement while complying with the units of weight & measurement, Legal Metrology Act 2009 was ruled out by Indian Government. As a part of this act, Government is responsible for as regulate the transparency of pricing. Besides, the prime objective of this Act in order to replace of Standards of Weights and Measurements Act, 1976. Regulating trade and commerce in a better way was another purpose Legal Metrology Act served. If you have not been familiar with its mechanism, then, read on to explore the same.

To start with, the stakeholders under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 have been clearly defined, wherein, these entities can experience merits of the amendment. Following are the stakeholders who need to know the Legal Metrology mechanism properly:

• Manufacturers: According to the Section 2(i) of the Act, connotation of "manufacturer" has been ruled out as entity pertaining to weight or measure, who—
• Produces weight or measure,
• Manufactures more than one parts and acquires weight or measure after assembling them. In addition, manufacturer is someone who claims weight or measure as the end product according to the situation,
• One who does not manufacture any sort of weight or measure but assembles parts manufactured by other entities and claims the product to be manufactured by himself
• Adds his own logo on any complete weight or measure manufactured by any other person and claims such product to be a weight or measure made by him

Packers – According to 2(g) of the Act, packer is a person / Firm, who or which packs any commodity in any jar, tin, box, wrapper or other packing in units determined for wholesale or retail.

Dealer – The Section 2(b) of the Legal Metrology Act associates the "dealer", with respect to any weight or measure, as someone who is related to the business of purchases, sale, supply or distribution of any weight or measure. It further implicates his role for seeking commission, remuneration, importer or deferred payment.

Importer – In this case, importer is a manufacturer, firm or legal entity which brings products from a foreign country into a customs territory.

Repairer – As stated in the Section 2(p) of the Act, "repairer'' is an individual who fixes a weight or measure and even includes a person who cleans, lubricates or works over any weight or measure to ensure that it complies with the accuracy as defined in the Legal metrology Act.

Apart from this, it should be known that legal standards of weight and measures are calibrated in laboratories situated in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar and Faridabad. These laboratories perform tests for model approval of weights and measures prior to their introduction in the market. According to Legal metrology Act, 2009, every entity or individual mentioned above that is manufacturer of the weight or measure should seek approval in advance. In a nutshell, model test approval is a basic procedure after which the manufacturer or importer can get a license to sell or distribute weight or measure of superior quality.