Key Regulatory Clarifications Issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs
by Reina Legal | Nov 21, 2025
The Legal Metrology Division, Department of Consumer Affairs released a new set of Frequently Asked Questions addressing compliance expectations under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (‘the LM Act’) and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (‘the LMPC’). We have hereinbelow summarized the key clarifications:
| S.No. |
Aspects |
Clarifications |
| 1. |
Packaging & Labelling Requirements |
- Footwear boxes with complete declarations do not require marking on the footwear itself. Footwear sold without a box must carry declarations via a tag or sticker
- MRP may be declared using either “₹” or “Rs.”
- Packages exclusively for institutional or industrial use are exempt from standard LMPC declarations, including MRP. They must prominently display “Not for Retail Sale”
- “Marketed by/ Brand Owner” with full name and address is sufficient compliance for Rule 6(1)(a) of the LMPC
- GST-registered retailers selling weight/volume-declared packaged goods must keep a certified electronic weighing machine (Class III, minimum 1 g) with receipt printing for customer checks
- Shipper/transport cartons should ideally be labelled as “wholesale package” or “used only for shipping/ transport” to avoid confusion.
- Larger font sizes than those prescribed under Rule 7 of the LMPC are permitted
- Declarations may be grouped in one place or split between pre-printed and online elements on the principal display panel under Rule 2(h) of the LMPC
- As per Rule 6(11) of the LMPC, unit sale price is not required for combination, group or multi-piece packages
- “1 N” or “1 U” is acceptable for net quantity declarations. Other terms such as piece, set, pair may also be used
- For imported retail goods, either of the importer/manufacturer/packer name and address with Country of Origin is sufficient compliance for the LMPC
- MRP may be omitted or obscured on institutional packs or evaluation samples clearly marked as not for retail sale
|
| 2. |
Model Approval Requirements (Section 22 of the LM Act) |
- Feeler gauges, electronic/digital calipers, mini vernier gauges, dial depth gauges, bore gauges, digital indicators and load cells are not covered and do not require model approval
- Gas meters are included in the Legal Metrology (General) Rules through an amendment dated 21 April 2025, which came into effect from 1 September 2025. Full compliance, including model approval, became mandatory from 1 September 2025
- Model Approval Number, manufacturer details, Max/Min capacity and ‘e’ value should ideally be printed at manufacture; however, the same are to be mandatorily present before sale or use
|
| 3. |
Verification & Stamping of Weighing Instruments |
- High-accuracy weighing instruments must be verified and stamped at the place of installation before use
- Up to five instruments may be imported for R&D with written intimation to the Controller; these cannot be sold or used commercially unless fully compliant
- Instruments used exclusively for R&D do not require verification or stamping
- All weighing and measuring instruments must be verified before sale or use
- Instruments used solely for internal industrial purposes, not affecting consumer delivery or transactions, do not require periodic re-verification
|
Click to download a FAQs document
