Vidhi Codex

The Legal Metrology Act, 2009

The Legal Metrology Act, 2009

Corporate200957 sections5 chapters

The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 establishes standard units of weights and measures across India, mandating the metric and decimal systems for all commercial transactions. It regulates the manufacturing, sale, import, and repair of measuring instruments, as well as declarations on pre-packaged commodities. The law applies to manufacturers, dealers, importers, and traders involved in trade and commerce. This legislation matters because it secures public trust and accuracy in everyday sales. By enforcing uniform standards, it protects consumers from fraud, guarantees fair market practices, and ensures that a kilogram or litre remains exactly the same throughout the entire country.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.
  3. 3Provisions of this Act to override provisions of any other law.

Chapter II STANDARD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES →

  1. 4Units of weights and measures to be based on metric system.
  2. 5Base unit of weights and measures.
  3. 6Base unit of numeration.
  4. 7Standard units of weights and measures.
  5. 8Standard weights, measure or numeral.
  6. 9Reference, secondary and working standard.
  7. 10Use of weight or measure for particular purposes.
  8. 11Prohibition of quotation, etc., otherwise than in terms of standard units of weight, measure or numeration
  9. 12Any custom, usage, etc., contrary to standard weight, measure or numeration to be void.

Chapter III APPOINTMENT AND POWERS OF DIRECTOR, CONTROLLER AND LEGAL METROLOGY OFFICERS →

  1. 13Appointment of Director, legal metrology officers and other employees.
  2. 14Appointment of Controller, legal metrology officers and other employees.
  3. 15Power of inspection seizure, etc.
  4. 16Forfeiture.
  5. 17Manufacturers, etc., to maintain records and registers.
  6. 18Declarations on pre-packaged commodities.
  7. 19Registration for importer of weight or measure.
  8. 20Non-standard weights and measures not to be imported.
  9. 21Training in Legal Metrology.
  10. 22Approval of model.
  11. 23Prohibition on manufacture, repair or sale of weight or measure without 1[registration certificate.

Chapter IV VERIFICATION AND STAMPING OF WEIGHT OR MEASURE →

  1. 24Verification and stamping of weight or measure.

Chapter V OFFENCES AND PENALTIES →

  1. 25Penalty for use of non-standard weight or measure.
  2. 26Penalty for alteration of weight and measure.
  3. 27Penalty for manufacture or sale of non-standard weight or measure.
  4. 28Penalty for making any transaction, deal or contract in contravention of the prescribed standards
  5. 29Penalty for quoting or publishing, etc., of non-standard units.
  6. 30Penalty for transactions in contravention of standard weight or measure.
  7. 31Penalty for non-production of documents, etc.
  8. 32Penalty for failure to get model approved.
  9. 33Penalty for use of unverified weight or measure.
  10. 34Penalty for sale or delivery of commodities, etc., by non-standard weight or measure.
  11. 35Penalty for rendering services by non-standard weight, measure or number.
  12. 36Penalty for selling etc., of non-standard packages.
  13. 37Penalty for contravention by Government approved Test Centre.
  14. 38Penalty for non-registration by importer of weight or measure.
  15. 39Penalty for import of non-standard weight or measure.
  16. 40Penalty for obstructing Director, Controller or legal metrology officer.
  17. 41Penalty for giving false information or false return.
  18. 42Vexatious search.
  19. 43Penalty for verification in contravention of Act and rules.
  20. 44Penalty for counterfeiting of seals, etc.
  21. 45Penalty for manufacture of weight and measure without 1[registration.
  22. 46Penalty for repair, sale, etc., of weight and measure without 1[registration.
  23. 47Penalty for tampering with 3[registration certificate.
  24. 48Compounding of offences.
  25. 49Offences by companies and power of court to publish name, place of business, etc., for companies convicted.
  26. 50Appeals.
  27. 51Provisions of Indian Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure not to apply.
  28. 52Power of the Central Government to make rules.
  29. 53Power of State Government to make rules.
  30. 54Delegation of Powers.
  31. 55Act not to apply in certain cases.
  32. 56Existing Director, Controller and legal metrology officer not to be affected by the new qualification to be prescribed.
  33. 57Repeal of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985.

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