What is Legal Metrology Registration?
The Legal Metrology Directorate is a separate government department of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Legal Metrology is responsible for the standards and regulations relating to measurements and weights of measuring instruments and other items imported / manufactured or sold on the Indian market.
Pursuant to the Legal Metrology Act 2009 – "Act to create and enforce weight and measure requirements, to control exchange and exchange in weights, measures and other products sold or distributed by weight, measure or number and relevant or incidental matters."
Simply put, the primary role of the Legal Metrology Department is to ensure that the weights and measurements used in India comply with proper standards and that the interests of people are covered when buying any packaged item.
In this article, we shall refer in particular to the packaging, marking and storage of goods imported / manufactured and sold on the Indian market. We will also learn about the process for obtaining a proper license to become an importer / manufacturer and packager of any drug.
Procedure & Requirements
Step 1: Preparation of Application along with respective drafts
Step 2: Submission of Application Online and physically along with prescribed fees.
Step 3: Issuance of UAIN (Unique Application Identification Number)
Step 4: The application is received by Facilitator Level-I who scrutinizes the application along with all the attachments and payments made.
Step 5: Then the Application is passed on to Legal Metrology Officer Level ii, who conduct an inspection and is responsible to submit the inspection report
Step 6: Post inspection the application is either approved or rejected by the Controller of Legal Metrology Department on the basis of merits and accuracy of the application and inspection report.
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Sl. No.
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Type of Application
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Who should apply
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List of documents to be submitted
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Timeline for approval
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1
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Application for Registration as Manufacturer/ Packer of pre-packed commodities (Form-I)
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Every individual, firm, society, company or corporation who or which pre- packs or imports any commodity for sale, distribution or delivery shall make an application for registration as manufacture/ packer of pre-packed commodities.
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- Trade License issued by concerned Municipal Corporation/ Board/ Town Committee/ Gaon Panchayat
VAT/ Sales Tax Registration Number/ CST Number/ Professional Tax Registration Number/ IT Number
Partnership Deed, if any
Factory Registration Certificate
Address proof
Certificate of importer issued by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India in case of importer of packaged commodities.
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15 (Fifteen) working day from the date of submission of application, completed in all respects along with documents as per checklist.
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2
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Application for Verification and Stamping of New Weighbridge (Form-6)
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Any traders and users of the new weighbridge shall make an application for verification and stamping of new weighbridge in Form-6.
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- Model approval certificate of the weighbridge issued by the Govt. of India
Purchase Invoice of the Weighbridge along with the Dealer License issued by the Government Authority
N.O.C issued by the Civil Administration/ Municipal/ Board/ town Committee/ Gaon Panchayat
Documentary Proof of availability of duly verified and stamped weights equal to one tenth of the capacity of the instrument or one ton whichever is less as required under sub rule (4) of the Rule 21 of the Assam Legal Metrology Enforcement Rule , 2011
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7 (Seven) working days from the date of submission of application, completed in all respects along with documents as per checklist.
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3
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Application for Verification and Stamping of New dispensing Pumps of Petrol/ Diesel (Form-5)
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Any concerned Oil Company or the owner of the New Dispensing Pumps of Petrol/Diesel shall apply for verification and stamping of new dispensing Pumps of Petrol/ Diesel in Form-5.
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- Letter addressed to the Controller from the concerned Oil Company
- Model approval certificate of the Dispensing Pumps issued by the Govt. of India.
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7 (Seven) working days from the date of submission of application, completed in all respects along with documents as per checklist.
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4
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Application for license as Dealer of Weights & Measures (Form- LD- I)
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A person who, carries on, directly or otherwise, the business of buying, selling or distributing any such weight or measure, whether for cash or for deferred payment or for commission, remuneration or other valuable consideration, and includes a commission agent, an importer, a manufacturer, who sells, supplies, distributes or otherwise delivers any weight or measure manufactured by him to any person other than a dealer shall apply for license as dealer of weights & measures.
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- Valid Trade License issued by concerned Municipal Corporation/ Board/ Town Committee/ Gaon Panchayat
- VAT/ Sales Tax Registration Number/ CST Number/ Professional Tax Registration Number/PAN
Model approval certificate issued by the Govt. of India.
- Authorization letter issued by manufacturer to sell weight or measure.
- Model approval certificate of the Dispensing Pumps issued by the Govt. of India.
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15 (Fifteen) working days from the date of submission of application, completed in all respects along with documents as per checklist.
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5
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Application for license as Manufacturer of weights & measures (Form- LM- I)
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A person who manufactures weights or measures shall make an application for license as manufacturer under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
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- Valid Trade License issued by concerned Municipal Corporation/ Board/ Town Committee/ Gaon Panchayat.
- VAT/ Sales Tax Registration Number/ CST Number/ Professional Tax Registration Number/ PAN.
- Model approval certificate issued by the Govt. of India.
- Land Documents where the factory of the manufacturer is established
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15 (Fifteen) working days from the date of submission of application, completed in all respects along with documents as per checklist.
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6
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Application for license as Repairer of Weights & Measures (Form- LR- I)
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A person who repairs a weight or measure and includes a person who adjusts, cleans, lubricates or paints any weight or measure or renders any other service to such weight or measure to ensure that such weight or measure conforms to the standards established by the act shall apply for license Repairer of Weights & Measures.
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- Valid Trade License issued by concerned Municipal Corporation/ Board/ Town Committee/ Gaon Panchayat.
- VAT/ Sales Tax Registration Number/ CST Number/ Professional Tax Registration Number/ IT Number.
- Experience Certificate for manufacturer/ dealer/ repairer.
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15 (Fifteen) working days from the date of submission of application, completed in all respects along with documents as per checklist.
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7
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Application for registration as Importer of Pre-packed commodities (Form-2)
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Any individual, firm, society, company or corporation who or which pre- packs or imports any commodity for sale , distribution or delivery shall make an application for registration as Importer of pre-packed commodities.
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- Trade License issued by concerned Municipal Corporation/ Board/ Town Committee/ Gaon Panchayat
- VAT/ Sales Tax Registration Number/ CST Number/ Professional Tax Registration Number/PAN
- Partnership Deed, if any
- Factory Registration Certificate
- Address proof
- Certificate of importer is issued by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India in case of importer of packaged commodities.
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15 (Fifteen) working days from the date of submission of application, completed in all respects along with documents as per checklist.
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Advantages of an Indian Legal Metrology License
Measurement is essential to daily business operations. Transparency in trade and the creation of a balance between producers and consumers are prerequisites for effective commerce. Benefits of obtaining a legal metrology licence include:
- A larger customer base
- Brings down transaction costs
- Obey legal requirements
- Guarantees fair trade
- Items made available to customers
- More favourable government revenue.
- Reduce the possibility of prosecution and punishment
- Removing trade-related technical obstacles
Legal Metrology Act Prohibition
A person shall not manufacture, repair, or sell, or offer for repair or sale, any weight or measure unless he or she is in possession of a valid LMPC Certificate issued by the Authority.
Provided, however, that a producer does not need a Legal Metrology permit to fix his own weight or measure in a state other than the state of manufacture.
The government of India, Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, defines and implements Legal Metrology Standards in India. While the Legal Metrology Act of 2009 has been designed as a model Act under central jurisdiction. Each Indian state has the authority to execute the Act with or without modifications. Furthermore, a few states have passed their own legislation to address the challenges and concerns associated with legal metrology