The Legal Metrology Division of the Department of Consumer Affairs has released a series of clarifications on frequently asked questions, providing guidance to manufacturers, importers, and consumers on various aspects of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and its associated rules.
Declarations on Packaged Commodities
Footwear
It’s not necessary to declare all required information on the footwear itself if it is clearly provided on the box or a label affixed to it, since the item is sold in the box. If footwear is sold without a box, however, the declarations must be made on the item using a tag, sticker, or other means.
MRP Declaration
The retail sale price can be declared using either the symbol “₹” or the words “Rs.”.
Wholesale Packages
Mandatory declarations are not required for pre-packaged commodities meant for institutional and industrial consumers. However, these packages must bear a “not for retail sale” declaration before being sold.
Font Size
Manufacturers can use a font size larger than the minimum height of numerals and letters mandated by the rules.
Principal Display Panel
All declarations can be grouped together in one place on the principal display panel, or pre-printed information can be grouped in one place and online information in another.
Combination Packages
The declaration of a unit sale price is not required for combination packages, group packages, or multi-piece packages. The declaration “1 N” or “1 U” is acceptable for declaring net quantity in combination packages.
Imported Products
The declaration of the name and address of the importer is sufficient for imported products, along with the declaration of the country of origin. The name and address of the foreign manufacturer are not mandatory. A declaration of the complete name and address of the brand owner with the words “Marketed by” or “Brand Owner” also suffices.
Weighing and Measuring Instruments
Section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, which requires model approval for weights and measures, is currently not applicable to instruments such as Feeler Gauges, electronic calipers, mini vernier gauges, dial depth gauges, digital calipers, bore gauges, or digital indicators, as they are not yet covered under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
Load Cells are also currently not covered, but the division notes that they “may be added under these rules shortly,” after which model approval will be required.
Verification and Stamping:
For weighing machines of very high accuracy classes, verification and stamping are required to be done at the place of installation before they are put into use, not before custom clearance.
The initial verification of all weighing and measuring instruments before sale or use is mandatory, but instruments used for R&D purposes are exempt from this requirement under Section 55 of the Act.
Importing Instruments
It is possible to import a very limited number (not more than 5) of weighing instruments for R&D purposes, even if model approval is not required in the country of manufacture. However, these machines cannot be sold or used without complying with all the requirements of the Act. The import must be reported in writing to the concerned Controller of Legal Metrology.
Weighing Machine Declarations
While it is advisable to declare details like the Model Approval Number, manufacturer, and capacity at the time of manufacture, it is mandatory to ensure these details are present on the stamping plate before sale or use.
Other Clarifications
The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011, were amended to include Gas Meters, with the new rules coming into force on September 1, 2025. It is mandatory to comply with all provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, for Gas Meters before this date.
Retailers who deal in packaged commodities by weight or volume and are covered under the Goods and Service Tax are required to maintain an electronic weighing machine of at least accuracy class III for consumers to check the weight of their packaged goods.