Model Approval Certificate for Weights and Measures

Legal Metrology is the part of the Department of Consumer Affairs which came into effect in 2009 and dealt with the monitoring & regulation of import, manufacturing business of weighing and measuring instruments. Registration of a company as an importer, manufacturer or packer of weighing & measuring devices and instruments must be done under Legal Metrology. Thus, any individual who wants to manufacture or import any weights and measures shall obtain the Model Approval Certificate for weights and measures instruments. For such approval, The Government of India announced the Legal Metrology (Model Approval) Rules, 2011.

Model Approval Certificate for Weights and Measures Instruments in India

Model Approval Certificate for Weights and Measures under the Act means that all the weighing and measuring instruments will go for test and regulation as per the provisions of the Legal Metrology and Rules. Testing is compulsory for model approval for weights & measures in India. As mentioned in Section 22 of the Act, every weight & measures instrument must fulfil the standards set by the Department of Legal Metrology. The authority of model approval for weights and measures instruments set by the Department Of Legal Metrology is governed by the Indian Government under the ambit of the MCA (Ministry of Consumer Affairs). Before manufacturing or importing weights & measures instruments in India, the manufacturer or importer must obtain Model Approval Certificate.

Section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 – An Overview

Every individual, before importing or manufacturing any weight or measure, shall seek for the Model Approval Certificate for Weights and Measures in such manner, on payment of such fee & from such authority as may be prescribed. Provided that such Model Approval may not be required in respect of any brass, cast iron, carat weight, bullion, or any beam scale, length measures (not being measuring tapes) which are generally used in retail trade for measuring textiles/timber, capacity measures, not exceeding 20 litres in capacity, which are generally used in retail trade for measuring milk, kerosene, or portable liquors.

Provided further that the specified authority may if he or she is satisfied that the model of any weight/measure which has been approved in a nation outside India conforms to the standards established by/under this Act, approve such model without any test or after such test as he or she may consider fit.