Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification: An Overview

Legal Metrology stamping and verification are required to protect and build confidence among consumers while buying products. This requirement comes under the Legal Metrology Act of 2009, which aims to regulate trade and commerce by implementing standard weights and measures throughout the Indian jurisdiction.

Importers, manufacturers, packers, and repairers must obtain a registration certificate before starting a weights and measures business transaction. This stamping and verification requirement ensures that such instruments are bonafide and customer-friendly.

However, non-compliance with such mandatory provisions leads to a legal penalty of fine and, for subsequent offences, both imprisonment and fine.

What is Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification?

Legal Metrology stamping and verification of weights or measures means obtaining legal approval from the concerned officer for business transactions connected with weights or measures or control of such instruments in the market. It has been defined under the Legal Metrology Act of 2009. Its primary objective is to create accuracy and standards in the weights and measures in India.

Further, it is one of the important measures taken in favour of customers safeguarding and filtering the substandard and inaccurate measurements and weights.

Documents Required for Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification

The list of documents for legal metrology stamping and verification documents are as follows

Applicant Photo Id.
Document of procurement in case of first verification, like purchase invoice bill or cash memo.
Approval of model certificate (if necessary, in case of first verification).
In case of re-verification, the applicant has to submit the last legal metrology stamping and verification certificate.

Procedure for Verification or Re-Verification of Weights/Measures

Every person in India using weights or measures in the business transaction or for protection shall obtain verification or re-verification from the concerned authority according to the procedure given below:

An applicant shall present such weights and measures before the Department of Legal Metrology of the particular state for either verification or re-verification before the due date or on which such verification falls due.
A complete weight or measure shall be presented for verification.
The legal metrology officer shall conduct the weights or measure testing and verification.
The concerned officer must provide a stamp certificate on every weight or measure of the application under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, after meeting the compliance of legal metrology stamping and verification.
In case weights or measures are such that they cannot be moved from their location, it is the responsibility of the applicant to inform the legal metrology department 30 days in advance before the due date of legal metrology stamping and verification.
In such a situation, a legal metrology officer shall take the necessary steps by conducting such legal metrology stamping and verification at their location. However, the applicant shall provide the facilities as specified by the controller.
After completing the legal metrology stamping and verification, the legal metrology officer shall issue a certificate of legal metrology verification after collecting the fees.
If weights or measures are presented before the Department of Legal Metrology for re-verification after the validity of the legal metrology stamping and verification certificate expires, an additional fee at half the rates specified shall be payable for every quarter of the year or part thereof.

List of Instruments - Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification

Some of the Instruments under the legal metrology stamping and verification are medical equipment, LPG cylinders, petrol pumps, meters in auto-rickshaws and cabs, cinema halls, restaurants, and hotels.

Exceptions of Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification

Given below are the instances where legal metrology stamping and verification of weights and measures are not required:

Weights and measures are used in factories that are exclusively engaged in the manufacturing of arms, ammunition, or both, specifically for the armed forces of the Union.
Weights and measures that are used for scientific investigation or research.
Products manufactured exclusively for export.

List of Items Not Applicable Under Legal Metrology Rules, 2011

The lists of items not applicable under the Legal Metrology Rule, 2011 are:

Any raw material for industrial use.
Any part or material used in any workshop or service station repairing bicycles, tricycles, and motor cycles.
Fast food items packed by restaurants or hotels.
Drugs or medicines covered under the Drug Control Order 1955.
Agricultural form products in packages of above 50 kg.

Legal Reverification Under the Legal Metrology Act

Apart from legal metrology stamping and verification, re-verification is another mandatory requirement under the rule of legal metrology. According to Rule 27 of the legal Metrology Rules,2011, reverification of weights or measures shall be held after completion of the following conditions:

Twenty-four months in case of weights, measure, tape, capacity measures, and counter machine.
Six months in case of storage tanks.
Twelve months in case of measures or weights comprising lorry tanks other than the ones mentioned above.

Additionally, dismantling, repair or reinstallation of weights and measures will require reverification under legal metrology before using it.

Government Approved Test Centres

According to the Legal Metrology Rule, 2013 (government Approved Test Centre), the measures and weights below are required to obtain verification from government Approved Test Centres.

Water Meter
Sphygmomanometer
Clinical Thermometer
Automatic Rail Weighbridges
Tape Measures
Non- automatic weighing instrument of accuracy class iv/class iii (up to 150kg)
Load cell
Beam cell
Counter Machine
Weights of all categories

Penalty On Non-compliance to Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification

If any person in India sells, distributes, delivers, or transfers any unverified weight or measure shall be legally liable as per section 33 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. Such person shall be imposed with a fine of no less than two thousand rupees, which may extend up to ten thousand rupees, and, for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to one year along with the fine.

Cost of Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification

The fees or costs for legal metrology stamping and verification depend upon the type and denomination of weights or measures plus an additional prescribed fee for delay of every quarter or part thereof. Additionally, if professional service is engaged, additional charges shall be added along with the government charges. The cost for legal metrology stamping and verification is Rs 5000 per machine.

Timeline of Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification

The timeline of legal metrology stamping and verification takes 5-7 days from the time an applicant submits the application for testing weights or measures.

Why Choose us for Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification?

Legal Metrology Consultants act as your legal metrology consulting partner and focus mainly on providing legal, financial, as well as business advisory services. We offer a range of legal metrology services to help streamline as well as simplify the process for entrepreneurs in weights and measures business looking for a stamping and verification certificate.

Initial Assessment and Consultation
Compliance Audit and Inspection
Document Preparation and Submission
Calibration Services
Liaison with Authorities
Regular Verification and Stamping

Frequently Ask Questions

No, it is not mandatory. The user can obtain legal metrology stamping and verification from the department of legal metrology of the concerned state.

No, a person can use weights and measures without obtaining a legal metrology stamping and verification certificate for any circumstances.

The director of Legal Metrology, under the government of India, is authorized to register the importation of weights and measurement instruments.

Yes, it is mandatory to get legal metrology stamping and verification on taxi meters from the concerned authority.

Any person or firm who is engaged in the pre-packs of any commodity whether in a bottle, tin, wrapper, or otherwise in units suitable for sale is a packer. However, packers have to get themselves registered with the Legal Metrology Department.

No, a person can sell or use unstamped weights or measures unless they have been verified and stamped by the Legal Metrology Officer.

No license issued or renewed under this act is saleable or otherwise transferable.

Yes, the certificate of verification issued by the Department of Legal Metrology must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the premises where such weights or measures are being, intended to be, or likely to be used in any transaction or for protection.

TA consumer, in the finding of a violation of Legal Metrology law, shall make a complaint before the controller of Legal Metrology, assistant controller of Legal Metrology and in the office of the Inspector of Legal Metrology of the concerned District or sub-division.

Application for registration of packer or importer of the package must be made before the Director of Legal Metrology, Government of India, or the State metrology Department.

Legal Metrology Stamping and Verification