Legal metrology is the branch of measurement law that protects buyers, and in India it runs on the Legal Metrology Act 2009, in force since 1 April 2011. The Department of Consumer Affairs writes the rules, and State Controllers enforce them. A scale used for buying or selling must be verified and stamped before use. Since 1 May 2026, many first offences bring a warning notice before any fine.
The Legal Metrology Act 2009 in short
The Act's own definition covers units, methods and instruments, with mandatory legal requirements that assure the public of security and accuracy. It became law as Act No. 1 of 2010, after assent on 13 January 2010, and it extends to the whole of India.
The Act replaced the Standards of Weights and Measures Act 1976 and the Enforcement Act 1985. That's why many offices and people still say "weights and measures department". An early notice set the start date at 1 March 2011, and a later gazette notice moved it to 1 April 2011.
Two laws have since changed it. The Jan Vishwas Act 2023 replaced jail with money penalties in several sections from 1 October 2023. The Jan Vishwas Act 2026 added warning notices from 1 May 2026. Many explainers online still quote the fines from before these changes.
Who runs the Legal Metrology department
India splits the job between the Centre and the States. The Department of Consumer Affairs sets standards and handles trade between States, while each State enforces the law inside its borders.
| Body | Level | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Director, Legal Metrology | Central | Handles inter-State trade, model approval work, importer registration |
| Controller of Legal Metrology | State | Enforces the Act in the State and grants registration certificates |
| Legal metrology inspector | State | Verifies and stamps instruments, inspects shops and packers |
| Regional Reference Standard Laboratories | Central | Link NPL's national standards to the State laboratories |
| Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, Ranchi | Central | Trains legal metrology officers |
Inspectors have real powers. Section 15 of the Act lets an officer enter, search, inspect and seize weights, goods and records when an offence appears likely. The Department's list of State Controllers gives each office's address and email.
The rules made under the Act
The Department lists every rule and amendment on its Legal Metrology Act page. These are the main ones:
| Rules | Year | What they cover |
|---|---|---|
| General Rules | 2011 | Verification, re-verification and instrument specifications |
| Packaged Commodities Rules | 2011 | Labels and declarations on pre-packed goods |
| Approval of Models Rules | 2011 | How a model gets approved before it is made |
| National Standards Rules | 2011 | Reference, secondary and working standards |
| Numeration Rules | 2011 | How numbers are written on goods and instruments |
| Government Approved Test Centre Rules | 2013 | Private centres that may verify listed instruments |
The Test Centre Rules of 2013 are still the current rules, amended in October 2025 and twice in 2026. Since October 2025, listed instruments may be verified either by an approved centre or by legal metrology officers. Each State also has its own enforcement rules, which set local fees and compounding sums.
Which scales need stamping, and how often
Section 24(1) requires verification before use for any weight or measure used in a transaction or for protection. A transaction includes sale and purchase. Weights and measures used only inside an industry, and not affecting what reaches consumers, don't need re-verification.
Rule 27(2) of the General Rules sets three periods, last changed in December 2025:
| Re-verify every | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Everything not listed below, including electronic scales and platform machines |
| 24 months | Weights, capacity and length measures, tape, beam scale, counter machine, petrol and diesel dispensers |
| 60 months | Storage tanks |
The rule doesn't name electronic scales, so the 12-month line for them is our reading of it. The Delhi Weights and Measures Department confirms it by listing one year for electronic scales and platform machines. A "counter machine" here means the old equal-arm balance, so a digital counter scale doesn't get 24 months.
A scale must also be re-verified after a repair. For the tests and error limits, see our guide to the legal for trade weighing scale. For money, see weighing scale stamping charges. A stamp is a different thing from a lab certificate, as what calibration means explains.
Licences and registrations a business needs
Shops only need verified instruments. The Department's overview says users of weights and measures need no registration. Everyone else in the chain does:
| Who | What they need | Law | Granted by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker, repairer or seller of scales | Registration certificate, called a licence until 1 May 2026 | Section 23 | State Controller |
| Importer of scales | Importer registration | Section 19 | Director |
| Packer or importer of pre-packed goods | Packaged commodities registration | Packaged Commodities Rules, rule 27 | Director or Controller |
| Anyone making or importing a new scale model | Model approval | Section 22 | Central Government |
| A company | One nominated director, answerable for offences | Section 49 | The company files the nomination |
A new scale brand needs its own model approval. Our guide on how to start a weighing scale brand covers that route, and Omace applies as the manufacturer under its OEM and private label service.
What a legal metrology certificate really is
The Act doesn't define a "legal metrology certificate". People use the phrase for five different documents, so ask which one you need:
| People say | It really is | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer or dealer licence | Registration certificate under section 23 | State Controller |
| Stamping certificate | Proof that one instrument passed verification | State officer or approved test centre |
| LMPC certificate | Packaged commodities registration | Director or State Controller |
| Model approval certificate | Approval of a model under section 22 | Central Government |
| Importer certificate | Importer registration under section 19 | Director |
To check one online, eMaap (emaap.gov.in), the national Legal Metrology portal, has a certificate status search for those issued from 18 December 2024. Older ones sit on State portals such as Rajasthan's Legal Metrology site. The Press Information Bureau says eMaap is meant to bring the State portals into one system.
Penalties after the 2023 and 2026 changes
An improvement notice is now the first step for many offences. The officer states what's wrong, what to fix and by when. Ignoring it can lead to suspension or cancellation of the registration or approval. The unverified weight offence, section 33, was left out of both Jan Vishwas Acts, so it still carries a fine from the first offence.
| Section and offence | First offence | Second offence | Later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33: using or selling an unverified weight or measure | ₹2,000–₹10,000 | Up to 1 year in jail, plus a fine | Up to 1 year in jail, plus a fine |
| 25: using a non-standard weight or measure | Improvement notice | Up to ₹1 lakh | ₹2 lakh–₹5 lakh |
| 27: making or selling a non-standard one | Improvement notice | Up to ₹1 lakh | ₹2 lakh–₹4 lakh |
| 32: not submitting a model for approval | Improvement notice | Up to ₹5 lakh | ₹10 lakh–₹20 lakh |
| 45: making scales without registration | Improvement notice | Up to ₹20,000 | ₹2 lakh–₹5 lakh |
We built this table from the Act's original text and the schedules of the two amending Acts. Both Jan Vishwas Acts also provide for fines to rise by 10% every three years, so treat the figures as base amounts and check with your Controller. Many offences can be settled by paying a compounding sum, which varies by State. Faking or tampering with a stamp is a separate offence under section 44, with jail of at least 6 months.
How to complain about a wrong weight
- Look for the stamp on the scale and its date. A trade scale without a current stamp is a reason to ask.
- Call the National Consumer Helpline on 1915 or 1800-11-4000, from 8 am to 8 pm. You can also use WhatsApp on 8800001915.
- Write to your State Controller of Legal Metrology with the shop's name, the date and what happened.
An officer can act on information given in writing. A court acts only on a written complaint from the Director, the Controller or an authorised officer, so the department's office is the place that counts.
Omace scales and stamping
Omace Brands Private Limited has manufactured weighing scales in India since 1994, from its factory in Bagru, Jaipur. More about Omace. Omace shop, platform, chicken and crane scales leave the factory verified and stamped by Legal Metrology, and every unit is calibrated before dispatch. That stamp is valid across India, and re-verification is then done by officers of the State where the scale is used. In August 2026, Omace had stall 6 at the 4th AIFWITA National Convention in Jaipur, a weights and measures trade gathering, and the event's livestream shows the stall at 4:36:37. See the weight machine for shop range and the platform weighing scale range. As a manufacturer, Omace Brands Private Limited holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016 and EU MDR quality certificates, and CE and US FDA compliance certificates, each listed on the Omace certificates page. This post explains the law in general and isn't legal advice.
