Background:
The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011 were introduced under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 to ensure that all weight and measure instruments used in trade, industry, and consumer transactions conform to prescribed national standards. Before a measuring instrument can be manufactured, imported, or sold in India, its model must undergo technical evaluation and testing by recognized laboratories to verify accuracy, reliability, safety, and compliance with metrological standards. These rules establish the procedures for model approval, including application requirements, testing mechanisms, grant of provisional or final certificates, use of approval markings, and conditions for revocation. By regulating the model stage rather than only field use, the rules enhance consumer protection, prevent trade malpractice, and promote uniformity in commercial transactions across the country.
Applicability
These rules apply to:
Compliance Requirements under the Rules in Accordance with the Act
A manufacturer must submit an application for model approval to the Director under Rule 5 with the required documents and prescribed fees under Rule 19 to a recognised laboratory. If the Director is satisfied that testing will take more than three months and receives a satisfactory preliminary test report, he may issue a provisional certificate subject to specified conditions, allowing the manufacturer to produce the weight or measure at his own risk until final approval. Manufacture, distribution, or sale must immediately stop if the provisional certificate is withdrawn. If the model later fails approval tests, all instruments sold under the provisional certificate must be withdrawn at the manufacturer’s cost. A provisional certificate shall not remain valid for more than one year from its date of issue as per Rule 8(6).
A Final Certificate is issued by the Director of Legal Metrology after full testing of a weight or measure model confirms compliance with LM standards, granting official approval for manufacturing or import without restrictions.
Manufacturer must apply to the Director for model approval as per Rule 5, submitting required documents and fees to a recognized laboratory. After successful testing and recommendation, the Central Government issues the final certificate.
A substitute material shall be sent by the manufacturer, within seven days from the date on which the first commences to manufacture with the substitute material, to the Director who shall cause it to be forwarded to a recognized appropriate laboratory for approval.
The mark assigned to the approved model shall be clearly and legibly affixed at such place of the model as may be specified in the certificate of approval and also on each weight or measure produced by the maker or manufacturer in accordance with the approved model.
Provided that if the approved model of the weight or measure conforming to such model is such that the mark assigned to the approved model cannot be affixed on it (for example, where it is fragile or too small), that mark may be associated with the conditions specified in the certificate of approval:
Provided further that, where the approval is of a limited character, the mark of approval shall be accompanied by a special mark indicating the limitations of the approval and different special marks may be made for different limitations.
The mark assigned to the model shall contain the national identification letters, namely, IND, the last two digits of the year of the issue (for example, 77), the code number assigned to the laboratory and the code number assigned to the model.”
A licence to manufacture or import a weight or measure is issued by the State Government only after the Central Government has granted a valid model approval certificate. If that approval is revoked, the licence is automatically suspended until the model is re-approved.
Before issuing a license to manufacturing or importing any weight or measure the State Government shall satisfy itself that a certificate of approval of the model of such weight or measure has been granted by the Central Government under section 22 of the Act.
When any certificate of any approval of model has been revoked by the Central
Government the license issued by the State Government for manufacturing or importing
any weight or measure in accordance with such model shall stand suspended:
Provided that such suspension shall stand vacated if such model is subsequently approved by the Central Government.
Penalty & Punishment
Whoever fails or omits to submit model of any weight or measure for approval, shall be punished with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and also with fine
Every person who manufactures or causes to be manufactured or sells or offers, exposes or possesses for sale, any weight or measure which,—
(a) does not conform to the standards of weight or measure specified by or under this Act; or
(b) which bears thereon any inscription of weight, measure or number which does not conform to the standards of weight, measure or numeration specified by or under this Act, except where he is permitted to do so under this Act, shall be punished with a fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.