1.“Legal metrology” means that part of metrology which treats units of weighment and measurement, methods of weighment and measurement and weighing and measuring instruments, in relation to the mandatory technical and legal requirements which have the objects of ensuring public guarantee from the point of view of security and accuracy of the weighments and measurements;

2. The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (1 of 2010) was implemented with effect from 1st April, 2011 the preamble of the act is as follows:

“An act to establish and enforce standards of weights and measures, regulate trade and commerce in weights, measures and other goods which are sold or distributed by weights, measure or number and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

3. As per section 57(1) of the Act the standards of weights and measures Act, 1976 and the Standards of weights and measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985, is hereby repealed.

4. The salient feature of the Act is as follows:

(I) every unit of weight or measure shall be in accordance with the metric system based of the international system of units.

5.(1) The base of unit of-----

(i) length shall be the metre;

(ii) mass shall be the kilogram;

(iii) time shall be the second;

(iv) electric current shall be the ampere;

(v) thermodynamic temperature shall be the Kelvin;

(vi) luminous intensity shall be the candela; and

(vii) amount of substance shall be the mole.

(2) The specification of the base units mentioned in sub-section (1), derived units and other units shall be such as may be prescribed.

6. Regulations of reference, secondary and working standards.

7. Regulations of weights and measures used in trade and commerce for transaction and protection.

8. Registration for importers of weights and measures.

9. Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, Ranchi.

10. Approvals of models of weights and measures.

11. Regulations of pre-packaged commodities.

12. Regulations of Government approved test centre.

13. For the implementation of Legal Metrology Act, 2009 the following rules have been framed

(i) The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011

(ii) The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011

(iii) The Legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2010

(iv) The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011

(v) The Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011

(vi) The Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011

(vii) The Legal metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules,2013

14. The State Government has also framed their State Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules for the implementation of the Act, 2009.

15. There are the following Zonal offices/ institute/ laboratories in the field of Legal Metrology.

(i) Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Ranchi----Responsible for providing training in the field of Legal Metrology to the Legal Metrology Officers of Central and State Governments.

(ii) Regional Reference Standard Laboratories situated at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Faridabad and Guwahati these laboratories are working as a central agencies between apex laboratory and State Government Laboratories for traceability of standards. These laboratories are also responsible for the testing of models of weights and measures, verification of secondary standards of State Government, Calibration of sophisticated weighing and measuring instruments, consumer awareness program etc.

Responsibility of the Centre and the States in relation to weights and measures

Weights and measure unit in the Department under the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs

Legal Arrangement

Enforcement

Training of personnel

Regional Reference Standards Laboratories

International Co-operation