Legal Metrology Act Registration

In today’s time, starting a business is not only about selling goods and services. It involves complying with the appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks which safeguard both the consumer and business. Businesses dealing with measuring devices, weighing instruments or packed products are required to adhere with Legal Metrology Registration procedure. 

Legal Metrology online service in India, have made this process appropriate for businesses of all size. The online services saves time, mitigate paperwork, and encourages businesses focus on growth without worrying about compliance delays. Obtaining a legal metrology license for businesses is vital for businesses involved in manufacturing, selling or importing. It is mainly designed to protect consumers and enterprises and to form a reliable framework for trade.

Who Needs To Apply?

The following business entities require to obtain LMPC Certificate registration under the Legal Metrology Act-

• Importers of Weight and Measures
• Importers of Packaged Commodities
• Manufacturers of Packaged Commodities
• Packers of Commodities
• Dealers of Weights and Measures
• Repairers of Weights and Measures

Applicable Laws

The Legal Metrology Act of 2011 prescribes standards for weights and measures. It regulates trade and commerce of weights, measures and goods sold by weight and measures. Further, Legal Metrology Rules talks about the declarations used on the packaging and error in net quantity.

The Department of Consumer Affairs includes the Legal Metrology Department, which was founded in 2009 and deals with monitoring and regulating the production, import and business of weighing and measuring instruments and devices. Under Legal Metrology, online company registration as a manufacturer, importer or packer of weighing and measuring instruments and devices is mandatory. Government authorities have established a standardised process for the LMPC Registration of the business in question under Legal Metrology.

The LMPC (Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities) Certificate under the Legal Metrology Act provides the following benefits-

• Prevents Errors:- The Act prohibits using manufacturing, repairing and selling of weight without a license. The governing officers monitor and prevent the usage of faulty weights.
• Discourage Illegal Practices:- The Act prescribes harsh punishments for those who do not use proper weights and hence discourages illegal weighing and measuring of consumer goods.
• Buyer Trust:- The buyers trust the manufacturers and distributors registered under the Legal Metrology Act. They feel safer while buying such products.
• Awareness:- LMPC Rules prescribe compulsory declaration on the packages, which spreads awareness of the full quantities among the consumers.

The manufacturers, dealers and repairers of weights and measures require the following documents-

Documents for the Manufacturers

• Photographs
• Identity Proof
• Address proof
• Proof of the Date of Birth
• Proof of Possession of the Premises
• Business Registration (Partnership, Company, Proprietorship, MSME etc.)
• GST Registration
• PAN Card
• Model Approval Certificate by the Director of Legal Metrology
• NOC from the Pollution Control Board
• List of Machinery and Tools
• Affidavit of Compliance
• Affidavit of Non-Conviction
• Factory Registration
• Trade Licence

Documents for the Dealers

• Photographs
• Identity Proof
• Address proof
• Proof of the Date of Birth
• Proof of Possession of the Premises
• Business Registration (Partnership, Company, Proprietorship, MSME etc.)
• GST Registration
• PAN Card
• Affidavit of Compliance
• Affidavit of Non-Conviction
• Shop Registration
• Trade Licence

Documents for the Repairer

• Photographs
• Identity Proof
• Address proof
• Proof of the Date of Birth
• Proof of Possession of the Premises
• Business Registration (Partnership, Company, Proprietorship, MSME etc.)
• GST Registration
• PAN Card
• Qualification Certificate (for Electronic Weighing Machines)
• List of Machinery and Tools
• Affidavit of Compliance
• Affidavit of Non-Conviction
• Factory Registration
• Trade Licence

• Any person desiring to procure a license to manufacture weights and measures shall apply in the format as prescribed under Form LM-1.
• The application shall be visible to the District Nodal Officer, who will forward the same to the respective Local Inspector (Legal Metrology Officer), depending on the address or location of the firm.
• The Local Inspector will inspect the proposed premises by the applicant and scrutinize the required documents.
• He will ascertain the capability and capacity of manufacturing. Then he will prepare a report and recommendation to send to the Controller (Licensing Authority) through Divisional Assistant Controllers along with the application.
• Assistant Controllers, after scrutinizing the application, Local LMOs reports and documents will forward to the Controller along with the recommendations.
• The applicant shall remove query or objection raised by Local Inspector, Assistant Controller, or Controller, which would be visible to the applicant.
• After scrutinizing the application, if the Controller finds it suitable to grant the License, he will require the applicant to deposit the License fee of Rs. 500 to the appropriate Head of Accounts.
• After depositing the fee and copy thereof in the Controller's office, the license would be issued in the prescribed format.

Procedure for the Dealers of Weights and Measures

• Any person desiring to procure a license as a Dealer of weights and measures shall apply in the format appended (LD-1).
• The application shall be accessible to the district nodal officer, who would then forward it to the respective Local Inspector according to the location and address of the company (Legal Metrology Officer).
• The Local Inspector will inspect the applicant's proposed premises and documents, prepare a report, and send it to the Assistant Controller along with the application and recommendation (Licensing Authority under delegated powers).
• In case of any substantive shortcomings in the application, the Local Inspector or Assistant may raise a query or objection. Controller, which is noticeable to the applicant who removes it.
• The Assistant Controller may require the applicant to deposit the license fee of Rs. 100 in the appropriate Head of Accounts after reviewing the application and considering it appropriate for the license grant.
• Once the fee is paid and a copy is obtained at the office of the Assistant Controller, the license will be issued in the specified format.

Procedure for the Repairer of Weights and Measures

• Anyone wishing to obtain a Weight and Measure Repairer license can apply in the format appended (LR-1).
• Application to be initially accessible to the district nodal officer, who would forward to the respective Local Inspector based on the company location address (Legal Metrology Officer).
• The Local Inspector shall inspect the applicant's proposed premises and the documents, prepare a report, and send it to the Assistant Controller along with the application and recommendation (Licensing Authority under delegated powers).
• After examining the application, the Assistant Controller, a report by the local LMO and documents, finding a prima facie case suitable to grant the license, would constitute a committee of three members to scrutinize and test the capability and competence of the applicant to repair the weights and measure. Accordingly, the committee shall prepare a report and forward it to the Assistant Controller.
• The applicant shall remove any query or objection raised by Local Inspector or Assistant Controller, which would be visible to the applicant.
• After Scrutinising the application, the Assistant Controller would grant the license and require the applicant to deposit the License fee of Rs. 100 to the appropriate Head of Accounts.
• After depositing the fee and its copy thereof in the Assistant Controller's office, he will issue the license in the prescribed format.
• In case of repairing license sought for the entire State, the application has to be sent to the Controller (Licensing authority) through the divisional Assistant Controller.

Registration with the State Controller of Legal Metrology or the Director of Legal Metrology of producers, packers and importers is mandatory. Infringement of which will lead to a fine of Rs. 4,000. If the standard units are not used for the declaration, a fine of Rs. 2,000 or 4,000 will be imposed, depending on the case.

Penalties may be increased to Rs. 25,000 for the first offence of non-declaration and Rs. 50,000 for the second. They may be extended to Rs. 1,00,000 or imprisonment for subsequent offences. For different offences, there are several other penalties specified under the Act.

The legal metrology certificate download allows businesses to access their approved certificate online. It ensures the business if compliant with the government standards. Obtaining a valid certificate is important for audits, assessments, and import clearance. The following are some steps to download the legal metrology certificate:

• Visit the official portal of the ‘state or the central Legal Metrology department’s site.
• Login with your registered ID and password, created at the time of application.
• Select the approved application or registration ID. 
• Once approval is down, download and save your legal metrology certificate.

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