Overview of LMPC Model Approval:
Model Approval in India refers to the certification process mandated by Section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act of 2009. This approval is issued by the Legal Metrology Department and is required for manufacturers or importers of weights and measuring instruments to ensure their products meet the prescribed standards.
According to Section 22, any entity that manufactures or imports weights, measures or related instruments must obtain a Model Approval Certificate from the Central Government's Legal Metrology Department, typically based in Delhi. The certificate ensures that the product complies with Indian legal metrology standards before it can be marketed or used.
Model Approval Eligibility Criteria:
- All weights and measuring devices, whether manufactured locally or imported must comply with the regulatory standards established by the Legal Metrology Department. Manufacturers and importers are required to ensure that their products meet these technical and legal standards.
- Before manufacturing or importing any weight or measuring instrument, obtaining a model approval certificate is mandatory. The model approval is issued after the submission of the required application and the payment of the prescribed fee as per the Legal Metrology Registration guidelines.
- If a model of weights or measures has been approved in another country, the authority may evaluate it against Indian standards set by the Legal Metrology Act. Based on the authority's discretion, the model may be accepted with or without further testing, depending on it’s alignment with India's regulatory framework.
Exceptions:
- Model approval is not required for certain products including cast iron, brass, bullion weights, carat weights, beam scales and linear measures (excluding measuring tapes).
- These exempted products are commonly used in retail sectors for measuring textiles or wood, provided that the capacity measures do not exceed 20 liters.
- Capacity measures exempt from approval are typically utilized in retail for measuring products such as kerosene, milk and consumable alcoholic beverages.