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Government Of Assam Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Controller of Legal Metrology

FAQ

1. Who deals with the matters of Weights & Measures?

The Legal Metrology Department earlier known as Weights & Measures Department.

2. Where weight & measure are verified and stamped?

Weight or measure is verified and stamped at the office of the Inspector of Legal Metrology or in the Camps held by the Inspectors in the places approved by the Controller. However, the weight or measure which cannot, or should not, be moved from its location is verified and stamped at the place of its location.

3. What are W & M (Legal Metrology) laws? What is the necessity of imposing these laws?

It ensures uniform enforcement of Standards and connected matters in W&Ms through out the country. The Govt. has enacted:

  • The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
  • The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
  • The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
  • The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011
  • The Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011
  • The Legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011
  • The Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011
  • The Assam Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011

4. Is there any license to manufacture, sale or repair Weights & Measures?

Yes, the Department issues license to the manufacturer, dealer and repairer of Weights & Measures and for dealing in weights & measuring instruments, the license is a must.

5. How can consumer ensure that any Weights & Measures is standard or not?

Every W&M used by the dealer is stamped by the W&M Department after due verification, with a special seal indicating the identification of Inspector, year and quarter of the year in which it is verified. The validity of such stamped weights is 24 months for all weights, capacity measures, length measures, tape, beam scale and counter machine, sixty months for storage tanks, and twelve months for all other weight or measure including tank lorry, spring balance, electronic balance, weighbridge, dispensing pump, auto-rickshaw fare meter, etc. Also from the verification certificate issued to the user which is required to be displayed at a conspicuous place by the trader/user, a consumer can ensure that a weight or measure is a standard one.

6. Who is the competent authority to grant license?

Controller of Legal Metrology, Assam is the competent authority to grant the license. Application for license may be forwarded to the Controller directly or through the Office of the Assistant Controller/Inspector of Legal Metrology. The State has 16 (Sixteen) offices of Assistant Controller and 33 (Thirty Three) offices of Inspector of Legal Metrology.

7. Who is a Packer?

Any person or a firm, which pre-packs any commodity whether in any bottle, tin, wrapper or otherwise in units suitable for sale, is a Packer. Packers need to register themselves with this Department.

8. What is Pre-packaged Commodity?

“Pre-packaged commodity” means a commodity which without the purchaser being present is placed in a package of whatever nature, whether sealed or not, so that the product contained therein has a pre-determined quantity.

9. Can a dealer charge legally more than the maximum retail price mentioned on the package?

No, overcharging is an offence for which the trader can be prosecuted.