Who is a dealer under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009?

Section 2(b) defines a dealer, in relation to a weight or measure, as a person carrying on the business of buying, selling, supplying or distributing weights or measures for consideration. It includes a commission agent, importer and a manufacturer who sells, supplies, distributes or otherwise delivers a weight or measure manufactured by him to a person other than a dealer.

Section 2(f) defines a label as written, marked, stamped, printed or graphic matter affixed to, or appearing upon, a pre-packaged commodity.

What is legal metrology?

Section 2(g) describes legal metrology as the part of metrology dealing with units, methods and instruments of weighment and measurement in relation to mandatory technical and legal requirements intended to assure security and accuracy of measurements.

Who is a manufacturer?

Section 2(i) broadly includes a person who manufactures a weight or measure, manufactures some parts and assembles the rest, assembles parts made by others and claims the end product as his own manufacture, or places his own mark on a complete weight or measure made by another and claims it as his own.

What does 'protection' mean?

Section 2(k) defines protection as use of a reading obtained from a weight or measure to determine a step required to safeguard a human being or animal, or to protect a commodity, vegetation or thing.

What is a pre-packaged commodity?

Section 2(l) means a commodity placed in a package, whether sealed or not, without the purchaser being present, so that the product has a pre-determined quantity.

Who is a 'person' under the Act?

Section 2(m) gives an inclusive definition covering, among others, a Hindu undivided family, government departments and offices, government organisations, local authorities, companies, firms, associations of individuals, statutory trusts, co-operative societies and registered societies.

What is 'sale' under the Act?

Section 2(r) broadly means transfer of property in any weight, measure or other goods for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration, including hire-purchase and instalment systems, but excluding a mortgage, hypothecation, charge or pledge.

What is a weight or measure?

Section 2(w) means a weight or measure specified by or under the Act and includes weighing and measuring instruments.

What are the base units under the Act?

Section 5 specifies the base units: metre for length, kilogram for mass, second for time, ampere for electric current, kelvin for thermodynamic temperature, candela for luminous intensity and mole for amount of substance.

Can prices, invoices and quantity declarations use non-standard units?

Section 11 generally prohibits quoting prices or charges, issuing price lists, invoices or cash memos, publishing advertisements, declaring net quantity or expressing quantities in transactions otherwise than in standard units of weight, measure or numeration. The statutory export exception should be noted.

What powers of inspection, search and seizure are available?

Section 15 authorises the Director, Controller or legal metrology officer, on the statutory grounds, to enter premises at a reasonable time, inspect weights, measures, goods and records, require production of documents and seize material that may furnish evidence. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 inserted an improvement-notice mechanism and permits suspension or revocation of registration or approval for failure to comply with such notice after an opportunity of hearing. Section 15(4) still refers textually to CrPC search-and-seizure procedure; for proceedings after 1 July 2024 this must be read with the BNSS repeal-and-savings framework.

When can seized weights, measures or packages be forfeited?

Section 16 provides that specified non-standard or unverified weights or measures and packages made in contravention of section 18, when seized under section 15, are liable to forfeiture to the State Government, subject to the statutory proviso for verification and stamping of an unverified weight or measure within the prescribed time.

What records must manufacturers, repairers and dealers maintain?

Section 17 requires manufacturers, repairers and dealers of weights or measures to maintain prescribed records and registers and produce them at inspection.

Updated: 1 September 2026

Legal Metrology Act, 2009: 2026 Registration, Inspection, Penalties, Compounding and Appeals

This updated guide explains dealer and manufacturer definitions, standard units, packaged commodities, model approval, registration, inspection and seizure powers, penalties, compounding and appeal procedure under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.

Major 2026 amendment: The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 took effect for the Legal Metrology Act from 1 May 2026. It introduced an improvement-notice framework, replaced several first-offence fines with warnings and higher repeat-offence penalties, changed many references from licence to registration / registration certificate, expanded section 36 to cover digital modes of sale including e-commerce, and amended the appellate structure.

Procedure after 1 July 2024: Section 15(4) still textually refers to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Since CrPC was repealed by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 subject to savings, current search-and-seizure procedure should be considered with the BNSS and transitional law. Section 40 has also been amended to link obstruction with punishment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

40 Updated Questions and Answers

S.No.	Legal Term / Question	Updated Answer
1	Who is a dealer under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009?	Section 2(b) defines a dealer, in relation to a weight or measure, as a person carrying on the business of buying, selling, supplying or distributing weights or measures for consideration. It includes a commission agent, importer and a manufacturer who sells, supplies, distributes or otherwise delivers a weight or measure manufactured by him to a person other than a dealer.
2	What is a label?	Section 2(f) defines a label as written, marked, stamped, printed or graphic matter affixed to, or appearing upon, a pre-packaged commodity.
3	What is legal metrology?	Section 2(g) describes legal metrology as the part of metrology dealing with units, methods and instruments of weighment and measurement in relation to mandatory technical and legal requirements intended to assure security and accuracy of measurements.
4	Who is a manufacturer?	Section 2(i) broadly includes a person who manufactures a weight or measure, manufactures some parts and assembles the rest, assembles parts made by others and claims the end product as his own manufacture, or places his own mark on a complete weight or measure made by another and claims it as his own.
5	What does 'protection' mean?	Section 2(k) defines protection as use of a reading obtained from a weight or measure to determine a step required to safeguard a human being or animal, or to protect a commodity, vegetation or thing.
6	What is a pre-packaged commodity?	Section 2(l) means a commodity placed in a package, whether sealed or not, without the purchaser being present, so that the product has a pre-determined quantity.
7	Who is a 'person' under the Act?	Section 2(m) gives an inclusive definition covering, among others, a Hindu undivided family, government departments and offices, government organisations, local authorities, companies, firms, associations of individuals, statutory trusts, co-operative societies and registered societies.
8	What is 'sale' under the Act?	Section 2(r) broadly means transfer of property in any weight, measure or other goods for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration, including hire-purchase and instalment systems, but excluding a mortgage, hypothecation, charge or pledge.
9	What is a weight or measure?	Section 2(w) means a weight or measure specified by or under the Act and includes weighing and measuring instruments.
10	What are the base units under the Act?	Section 5 specifies the base units: metre for length, kilogram for mass, second for time, ampere for electric current, kelvin for thermodynamic temperature, candela for luminous intensity and mole for amount of substance.
11	Can prices, invoices and quantity declarations use non-standard units?	Section 11 generally prohibits quoting prices or charges, issuing price lists, invoices or cash memos, publishing advertisements, declaring net quantity or expressing quantities in transactions otherwise than in standard units of weight, measure or numeration. The statutory export exception should be noted.
12	What powers of inspection, search and seizure are available?	Section 15 authorises the Director, Controller or legal metrology officer, on the statutory grounds, to enter premises at a reasonable time, inspect weights, measures, goods and records, require production of documents and seize material that may furnish evidence. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 inserted an improvement-notice mechanism and permits suspension or revocation of registration or approval for failure to comply with such notice after an opportunity of hearing. Section 15(4) still refers textually to CrPC search-and-seizure procedure; for proceedings after 1 July 2024 this must be read with the BNSS repeal-and-savings framework.
13	When can seized weights, measures or packages be forfeited?	Section 16 provides that specified non-standard or unverified weights or measures and packages made in contravention of section 18, when seized under section 15, are liable to forfeiture to the State Government, subject to the statutory proviso for verification and stamping of an unverified weight or measure within the prescribed time.
14	What records must manufacturers, repairers and dealers maintain?	Section 17 requires manufacturers, repairers and dealers of weights or measures to maintain prescribed records and registers and produce them at inspection.
15	What declarations are required on pre-packaged commodities?	Section 18 requires pre-packaged commodities to bear prescribed declarations and particulars. The detailed current requirements are governed principally by the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, as amended, including requirements concerning identity, quantity, MRP and prescribed business particulars subject to applicable exemptions and product-specific rules.
16	Is model approval required before manufacturing or importing a weight or measure?	Section 22 generally requires model approval before manufacture or import of a weight or measure, subject to the statutory exceptions and prescribed procedure.
17	Is a licence still required to manufacture, repair or sell weights or measures?	From 1 May 2026, section 23 uses the term 'registration certificate' instead of 'licence'. A person must hold the prescribed registration certificate issued by the Controller to manufacture, repair or sell, or offer, expose or possess for repair or sale, weights or measures, subject to the statutory exception for certain repairs by a manufacturer.
18	What is the current consequence for use of a non-standard weight or measure?	Section 25 continues to penalise use or keeping for use of a non-standard weight, measure or numeration. The current consolidated Act should be consulted for the applicable stage-specific consequence because the Jan Vishwas amendments rationalised several repeat-offence structures.
19	What is the current penalty for tampering with or altering a weight or measure?	Section 26 provides a fine up to ₹50,000 for the first offence. Following the 2026 amendment, the second offence may attract a fine up to ₹1 lakh, while the third or subsequent offence may attract imprisonment from 6 months up to 1 year, or fine, or both.
20	What is the current penalty for manufacture or sale of a non-standard weight or measure?	From 1 May 2026, section 27 provides an improvement notice for the first offence; for the second offence, a penalty up to ₹1 lakh; and for subsequent offences, a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh and up to ₹4 lakh.
21	What is the current consequence for transactions contrary to prescribed measurement standards?	From 1 May 2026, section 28 provides an improvement notice for the first offence, a penalty up to ₹50,000 for the second offence, and for subsequent offences a fine of not less than ₹1 lakh and up to ₹2 lakh.
22	What is the current consequence for quoting or publishing non-standard units?	From 1 May 2026, section 29 provides an improvement notice for the first offence, a penalty up to ₹50,000 for the second offence, and for subsequent offences a fine of not less than ₹1 lakh and up to ₹2 lakh.
23	What is the penalty for short delivery or excess receipt in a transaction?	Section 30 covers specified short delivery, short service, fraudulent excess receipt and excess service. The first offence may attract a fine up to ₹10,000; after the 2026 amendment, the second offence may attract a fine up to ₹20,000, while a third or subsequent offence may attract imprisonment up to 1 year, or fine, or both.
24	What is the current penalty for non-production of documents or records?	From 1 May 2026, section 31 provides an improvement notice for the first offence; the second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹25,000; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹50,000 and up to ₹1 lakh.
25	What is the current penalty for failure to obtain model approval?	From 1 May 2026, section 32 provides an improvement notice for the first offence; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹5 lakh; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹10 lakh and up to ₹20 lakh.
26	What is the penalty for using an unverified weight or measure?	Section 33 provides a fine of not less than ₹2,000 and up to ₹10,000, and for a second or subsequent offence imprisonment up to 1 year together with fine.
27	What is the current consequence for selling or delivering by a non-standard weight or measure?	From 1 May 2026, section 34 provides an improvement notice for the first offence; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹25,000; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹50,000 and up to ₹1 lakh.
28	What is the current consequence for rendering services by non-standard weight, measure or number?	From 1 May 2026, section 35 provides an improvement notice for the first offence; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹25,000; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹50,000 and up to ₹1 lakh.
29	What is the current penalty for non-compliant pre-packaged commodities?	Section 36(1) was substantially amended from 1 May 2026. It expressly covers digital modes of sale, including e-commerce platforms, online marketplaces and specified electronic service providers. A first contravention attracts an improvement notice; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹5 lakh; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹25 lakh and up to ₹50 lakh. Section 36(2), dealing with prescribed net-quantity error, has its own escalating fine and repeat-offence structure.
30	What is the penalty for contravention by a Government Approved Test Centre?	Section 37(1), as amended, provides a penalty up to ₹1 lakh for contravention of the Act, rules or applicable test-centre conditions. Section 37(2) separately deals with wilful improper verification or stamping by an owner or employee.
31	What is the current consequence for non-registration by an importer of a weight or measure?	From 1 May 2026, section 38 provides an improvement notice for the first offence; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹25,000; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh and up to ₹5 lakh.
32	What is the current consequence for importing a non-standard weight or measure?	From 1 May 2026, section 39 provides an improvement notice for the first offence; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹50,000; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh and up to ₹5 lakh.
33	What is the current law on obstructing a Legal Metrology officer?	Section 40 was amended in 2026. Instead of the former standalone imprisonment terms, obstruction is now punishable in accordance with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The exact BNS provision depends on the conduct proved.
34	What is the penalty for improper verification or stamping by an officer?	Section 43 continues to provide imprisonment up to 1 year, or fine up to ₹10,000, or both, where the Controller or a legal metrology officer wilfully verifies or stamps a weight or measure contrary to the Act or rules.
35	What is the punishment for counterfeiting legal-metrology seals or stamps?	Section 44 contains serious criminal consequences for counterfeiting, dealing in or possessing counterfeit seals and for specified tampering with stamps. The punishment escalates for repeat offending. Because this remains a criminal provision, the exact subsection and current consolidated text should be checked before prosecution or defence advice.
36	What is the current consequence for manufacturing a weight or measure without registration?	From 1 May 2026, section 45 uses 'registration' instead of 'licence'. A first offence attracts an improvement notice; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹20,000; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh and up to ₹5 lakh.
37	What is the current consequence for repair or sale of a weight or measure without registration?	From 1 May 2026, section 46 also uses 'registration'. A first offence attracts an improvement notice; a second offence may attract a penalty up to ₹5,000; and subsequent offences may attract a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh and up to ₹5 lakh.
38	What is the consequence of tampering with a registration certificate?	Section 47 now refers to tampering with a registration certificate rather than a licence. The applicable penalty should be read from the current consolidated section because the 2026 amendment changed the terminology and related compliance structure.
39	Can offences under the Legal Metrology Act be compounded?	Yes. Section 48, as substituted in the current consolidated Act, allows specified offences under sections 25 to 39, section 41, sections 45 to 47 and specified rule breaches to be compounded before or after institution of prosecution on payment of the prescribed sum. The competent authority depends on whether the matter falls within Central or State legal-metrology administration.
40	What is the time limit for filing an appeal under section 50?	Section 50 provides appeals against specified decisions and orders to the designated appellate authority. The appeal must ordinarily be filed within 60 days from the impugned order. On sufficient cause, a further period of up to 60 days may be allowed. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 also amended certain appellate-authority references with effect from 1 May 2026.

2026 legal-metrology compliance changes

The 2026 amendment materially changes the enforcement model. For several contraventions, a first violation now leads to an improvement notice instead of an immediate monetary or criminal sanction. Repeat contraventions can attract substantially higher monetary penalties. Businesses dealing in weights, measures and packaged commodities should therefore use the current consolidated Act rather than older penalty charts.

Pre-packaged commodities and e-commerce

Section 18 must be read with the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, as amended. Section 36(1), as amended from 1 May 2026, expressly covers digital modes of sale, including e-commerce platforms, online marketplaces and specified electronic service providers facilitating such sales. Product-specific rules and exemptions should also be checked before publication of labels or online listings.

Official legal sources

For the latest text, use India Code - Legal Metrology Act, 2009, the Department of Consumer Affairs Legal Metrology page, and the Department's current Legal Metrology rules and notifications. For criminal-procedure changes, refer to the Ministry of Home Affairs - New Criminal Laws.

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information. Exact liability depends on the section, whether the event is a first or repeat contravention, applicable Central or State rules, improvement notices, registration status, facts, evidence and current notifications.