|
|
Overview:
Enforcement of Weights & Measures and of those of the package commodities in
the market is an indispensable activity of the Government. The responsibility in
relation to weights & measures is shared between the Centre and the States.
Matters of national policy and other related functions such as, uniform laws on
weights & measures, technical regulations, training, precision laboratory facilities
and implementation of the International Recommendation are the concern of the Central
Government. The State Governments and Union Territory Administrations are responsible
for the day to day enforcement of the laws.
The weights and Measures Unit in the Department of Consumer Affairs being the central
authority for dealing with the subject, is required to handle all the matters falling
within the purview of the Central Government. In addition, it has to guide, co-ordinate
and supervise the enforcement activities of the state enforcement machinery. The
Legal Metrology Act, 2009: The Central Government has appointed the date 1st March
2011 from which the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and all the Rules made there under,
will come into effect. Gazette Notification in this respect has been published.
The Central Government has also notified the following Rules made under the Act.
• The legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011
• The legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011
• The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011
• The Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011
• The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
• The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 replaces the Standards of Weights and Measures Act,
1976 and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) act, 1985.
Frequently Occurring Problems (FOPs) are as follows:
• Charging more than MRP
• Less weight than proclaimed
• Weighing sweets with box
• Missing mandatory labeling information
• Non- calibrated weighing scale
• Packing in non – standard weights
Complaint Redressal System:
In case of any complaint, consumer can contact:
Tier I: Shopkeeper / Manufacturer
Tier II: District Legal Metrological Officer
or Controller, Legal
Metrology of State / Union Territory
|