Legal Metrology FAQs
Legal Metrology governs weights, measures, and the labelling of pre-packaged commodities under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. If you are a manufacturer, packer, or importer of such goods for sale in India, you are legally required to comply.
As per Rule 27, any business that manufactures, packs, or imports pre-packaged commodities must obtain a Packer/Manufacturer/Importer Registration with the Legal Metrology Department within 90 days of commencing operations.
Some key mandatory declarations under Rule 6 include:
- Name and address of the manufacturer, packer or importer
- Common or generic name of the product
- Net quantity
- Month and year of manufacture or packing
- Maximum Retail Price (MRP), inclusive of all taxes
These declarations must be clearly legible and visible on the principal display panel.
No. Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules apply only to products intended for sale in India. If your goods are exclusively for export, these rules do not apply, provided the packages are not diverted for domestic sale.
Consequences of not registering non-compliance with Rule 27 can result in:
- First offence: Fine up to ₹25,000
- Second offence: Fine up to ₹50,000
- Subsequent offences: Minimum ₹50,000, up to ₹1,00,000 or imprisonment up to 1 year or both
These penalties apply per director, per company.
Yes. As per Rule 6(10) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 the same packaging and labelling rules apply to e-commerce sales. The declarations that are mandatory on physical labels must also be clearly displayed on the product listing page on your e-commerce platform.
You must apply online or through the local Controller of Legal Metrology in your state. The application requires:
- Business details
- Sample packaging label
- Manufacturing/packing location details
Processing timelines and documentation vary slightly by state.
Yes. A company can nominate a director or officer in charge of a particular premises to be responsible under the Act. If an offence occurs, only the nominated person may be held liable, not all directors or the entire company (Section 49 of the Legal Metrology Act).
Yes. A single Packer/Manufacturer registration can cover multiple products or brands, as long as they are packed/manufactured by the same legal entity. However, different legal entities require separate registrations.