This article is a complete guideline for readers looking forward to knowing all Legal Metrology Rules applicable in India.
Legal Metrology Rules refer to a set of regulations and standards that govern the measurements and weighing instruments used in trade and commerce. These rules have been established to ensure that consumers are not cheated or misled by inaccurate measurements and to promote fair trade practices.
Legal Metrology establishes standards of weights of goods that are distributed and sold in the commercial marketplace in terms of specific measures or weights. In this article, we will know all the Legal Metrology Rules prevalent in India.
The purpose of enforcing these rules is to regulate the methodology of measurements and weights, which checks the technical accuracy of measuring tools. These tools or instruments are used broadly in the public domain once they get approval from the Indian Government.
Legal Metrology: Why Does There Need to be Such Regulations?
In simple terms, legal metrology registration interprets the governance and standardization of procedures through which weights of commodities are recorded. Suppose such regulations cease to exist or there are no such guidelines directing the manufacturing protocols of measuring tools. In that case, there will be inequality in the number of goods wrapped up in a package.
The general population will be deceived owing to the insufficient data they will provide while buying an item. Indian Government, therefore, keeps constant vigilance on the implications of such rules.
The Act was enforced on 1st March 2011. Before this, there was another Act called Standards of Weights & Measures (1976).
Alongside this existed the Enforcement law (Standards of Weights & Measures), which came into force in 1985. In the next portion of the article, let us stress identifying key terms related to Legal Metrology rules.
Key Terms described under this Act
Before we know all Legal Metrology Rules, it will be wise to identify the key definitions linked to this Act. The highlighted terms include:
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Dealer
This term refers to a person involved in direct or indirect buying/selling of measuring tools. This entity might also be a supplier or distributor who deals in cash or any sort of deferred payment option. Commission agents, weight manufacturers, or any importer who delivers these items to someone other than a dealer also fall under this category.
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Manufacturer
This word has a generic meaning, but we will discuss its significance in the weight or measuring sector. In this regard, a manufacturer is a person who They make weights or measuring devices. They are responsible for the production of multiple parts and procure the arrangement of other parts for assembling later on. They do not produce any weights or tools but actively participate in assembling the items designed by third-party manufacturers. They establish their trademark on any finished device or weight that a separate person manufactures to market the item publicly as an in-house commodity.
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Packer
A person or an enterprise entrusted with the duty of pre-packaging a product in units ready for sale (either wholesale or retail) is identified as a packer. This packaging is done in any wrapper, tin, bottle, tetra pack, etc.
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Label
This embodies any marked, written, printed, or graphic subject matter stamped onto or affixed upon any pre-packaged good.
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Pre-packaged commodity
This term signifies a market-ready product stored in a package but still has no consumer. This package can be of any nature. Also, there is no mandatory guideline that the package needs to be sealed at this stage. But the manufacturer must ensure that the commodity included maintains a prescribed quantity.
Regulations of the Act – Know all Legal Metrology Rules
Every unit of measurement must follow the metric system established on the broadly accepted global system of units.
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Unit standardisation under Metrology
Unit measurement of commodities shall not differ from the fundamental units of weights as mentioned in the Legal Metrology.
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Application of measurement or weights for specific goals
Whether it is a commercial transaction, deal or contract involving a category of goods, individual product or undertakings, the process must incorporate the measurement processes as prescribed.
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Abolition of quotations that are not specified in the Act
A person associated with the transference of goods or services must not: Make a formal announcement or quote the charge or rate in accordance with his whom Issue or reveal the cash memo, invoice, price list or similar other documents. Design or publish an advertisement or poster . Mention the net amount of any packaged item
Highlighted Statements associating Pre-packaged Commodities
The Government allows no individual to manufacture, import, pack, sell, deliver, distribute, possess, offer, or expose any pre-packaged item to gain profits unless the packaging ensures that the item is in correct proportion as prescribed by the standardization committee.
Let us now gather information about the key declarations affixed to pre-packaged goods.
- Official trade name and complete address line of the product maker
- If the commodity is packed by someone else other than the manufacturer, then the label hall declares the firm’s address and official name
- For imported item, the address and name of the importer has to be there
- The generic name of the product has to be displayed, in the case of a mixture or solution definite quantities of each substance are stated without fail
- Net quantity is important information expressed following standard units of measurement.
- The actual month and year of product manufacture or packaging are also stated. For imported goods, the consequent date of import is there.
- The Marked Retail Price is there.
- Contact information such as registered telephone number, email ID or postal code is given in order to cater to complaints and queries.
All the information mentioned above must be declared either in Hindi or English if the product is being marketed in India. No regional language usage is encouraged in this matter. Also, this law indicates that no person is supposed to sell the commodity at a price higher than the retail price which is mentioned on the label.
The packers or manufacturers must announce a declaration before publicly remarketing a product at a revised price resulting from an increase in imposed taxation. This is a liability they owe to all the brand’s stakeholders.
Conclusion:-
The core legislature administering the Legal Metrology rules appears to be the Indian Legal Metrology which was proposed in 2009. This law delivers regulations to monitor measurements, weighing and manufacture of measuring tools. Also, the provisions of this Act seem to be very particular concerning fair trading across the country.
The sole purpose of the law is to provide confidence to all Indian consumers, people in business and traders. You will find similar legal topics covered in our official portal. To get access to similar topics, consider visiting Vakilsearch.
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