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Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws · Legal Metrology

Legal Metrology Act 2009: Introduction and Definitions

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 regulates units of weighment and measurement, and the instruments used, so that the public gets accurate weights and measures. It extends to the whole of India. Section 2 holds the definitions. To answer questions, state the term, quote its key words, then apply it to the facts.

Understand Legal Metrology Act 2009: Introduction and Definitions

Every day, people buy rice by weight, petrol by volume and cloth by length. They trust that a kilo is a kilo. Legal metrology is the part of metrology that deals with units, methods and instruments of weighing and measuring, with mandatory technical and legal requirements. Its object is public guarantee of security and accuracy of weighments and measurements. This is the definition in section 2(g), and it also tells you the purpose of the Act.

The Act may be called the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. It extends to the whole of India (section 1). It came into force on 1 March 2011, by a notification dated 31 December 2010. The Central Government could appoint different dates for different provisions. The Act replaced the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985. State rules made under the 1985 Act stay in force until the State Government makes new rules (section 56(2)). Existing officers are deemed to be appointed under the new Act (section 56(1)).

The Act applies to dealings in goods, things and services where quantity is stated. Section 11 bars anyone from quoting prices, issuing price lists, invoices or cash memos, publishing advertisements, indicating the net quantity of a pre-packaged commodity, or expressing a quantity or dimension in a transaction or protection, except in the standard unit of weight, measure or numeration. Section 11(2) says this does not apply to export of goods, things or service.

Next, learn the key definitions in section 2. A pre-packaged commodity is a commodity which, without the purchaser being present, is placed in a package of whatever nature, sealed or not, so that the product has a pre-determined quantity. A weight or measure is one specified by or under the Act and includes a weighing or measuring instrument. A legal metrology officer means an Additional Director, Additional Controller, Joint Director, Joint Controller, Deputy Director, Deputy Controller, Assistant Director, Assistant Controller or Inspector appointed under sections 13 and 14. The Director and Controller are defined separately by reference to sections 13 and 14.

The other definitions are easier to remember in groups. People: dealer, manufacturer, repairer and person. Things: label, premises, seal, stamp. Activities: sale, transaction, verification, protection, export, import. Note that person includes an HUF, a company, a firm, a trust, a co-operative society and a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Act does not define a term called standard weight in section 2; standard units are those specified under the Act, and section 34 refers to the standard weight or measure or number.

Key rules to remember

Legal metrology (s 2(g))
Units + methods + instruments of weighment and measurement, with mandatory technical and legal requirements, to ensure public guarantee of security and accuracy
Use this to state the objective of the Act.
Pre-packaged commodity (s 2(l))
Packed without the purchaser being present + any package, sealed or not + pre-determined quantity
All three elements must be present. A sealed package is not required.
Weight or measure (s 2(w))
Weight or measure specified by or under the Act + weighing or measuring instrument
Instruments are included in the definition.
Legal metrology officer (s 2(h))
Additional/Joint/Deputy/Assistant Director or Controller + Inspector, appointed under sections 13 and 14
The Director and Controller are not in this list; they are defined in s 2(c) and 2(a).
Extent and commencement (s 1)
Whole of India; in force 1 March 2011
Commencement was by notification; different dates could be set for different provisions.
Standard units (s 11)
No quotation, price list, invoice, advertisement, net quantity or dimension except in standard units; not applicable to export
The exemption in s 11(2) covers export of goods, things or service.

How to solve Legal Metrology Act 2009: Introduction and Definitions questions

Use this method for any question on the introduction, objectives or definitions in this Act.

  1. 1Read the question and mark the exact term or provision it asks about, for example pre-packaged commodity, premises or legal metrology officer.
  2. 2State the provision first: name the Act and give the section number only where you are sure, such as section 2 for definitions.
  3. 3Quote or closely paraphrase the key words of the definition. Examiners look for the exact elements.
  4. 4Break the definition into its elements and apply each one to the facts given in the question.
  5. 5Note any inclusion or exclusion, such as sale excluding mortgage, hypothecation, charge or pledge.
  6. 6Give a clear conclusion in one line that answers the question asked.
  7. 7For objective-type or short-note questions, add extent, commencement and the object of the Act in two lines.

Quickest way: Element checklist

When to use it: Use when you have only a few minutes for a short note or a fact-based question on a definition.

  1. Write the term and the section 2 clause in one line.
  2. List its elements as three or four bullets, using the words of the Act.
  3. Test the facts against each bullet with a tick or cross.
  4. Write the conclusion starting with Therefore.

Common mistakes in Legal Metrology Act 2009: Introduction and Definitions

  • Saying a pre-packaged commodity must be sealed.

    Students think of factory-sealed packets.

    Fix: Remember the words: in a package of whatever nature, whether sealed or not. The key tests are absence of the purchaser and a pre-determined quantity.

  • Listing the Director and Controller inside the definition of legal metrology officer.

    All the posts sound like one hierarchy.

    Fix: Section 2(h) lists Additional, Joint, Deputy and Assistant Directors and Controllers, and Inspectors. The Director and Controller are defined separately in s 2(c) and 2(a).

  • Treating section 11 as applying to exports.

    Students remember the prohibition but forget the exception.

    Fix: Section 11(2) states that sub-section (1) does not apply to export of any goods, things or service.

  • Including a mortgage or pledge as a sale.

    Students use the general meaning of sale.

    Fix: Section 2(r) covers transfer of property for cash, deferred payment or other valuable consideration, including hire-purchase and instalments. It excludes mortgage, hypothecation, charge or pledge.

  • Giving the wrong commencement or extent.

    Dates are memorised loosely.

    Fix: The Act extends to the whole of India and came into force on 1 March 2011 by notification dated 31 December 2010.

  • Confusing the limits of dealer and manufacturer.

    Both can sell weights and measures.

    Fix: A dealer is in the business of buying, selling, supplying or distributing. A manufacturer makes, assembles, or puts his own mark on a weight or measure and claims it as his own.

Worked examples

Example 1

Anand Foods Ltd packs 500 g of atta into bags at its factory in Indore, without any buyer present, and sells them through retailers. The bags are sealed with tape. Is the atta a pre-packaged commodity under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009?

Show the solution
  1. Provision: section 2(l) defines a pre-packaged commodity as a commodity which, without the purchaser being present, is placed in a package of whatever nature, whether sealed or not, so that the product has a pre-determined quantity.
  2. Element 1: the atta was packed at the factory with no purchaser present. Satisfied.
  3. Element 2: it is placed in a bag, which is a package of whatever nature. Sealing is not required, but here it is sealed in any case. Satisfied.
  4. Element 3: each bag has a pre-determined quantity of 500 g. Satisfied.
  5. Consequence: section 18(1) then applies, so the packages must be in standard quantities and carry the prescribed declarations.

Answer: Yes. The atta bags meet all three elements of section 2(l), so they are pre-packaged commodities and the declaration requirements of section 18 apply to them.

Example 2

Write a short note on the objective, extent and commencement of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and state whether section 11 applies to goods exported by Kaveri Exports Pvt Ltd.

Show the solution
  1. Objective: the Act deals with legal metrology, which under section 2(g) means the part of metrology treating units, methods and instruments of weighment and measurement, with mandatory technical and legal requirements to give public guarantee of security and accuracy of weighments and measurements.
  2. Extent: under section 1(2) the Act extends to the whole of India.
  3. Commencement: under section 1(3) it comes into force on a date notified by the Central Government. It was brought into force on 1 March 2011 by notification dated 31 December 2010.
  4. Section 11(1) bars quoting prices, issuing invoices, advertising, indicating net quantity or expressing quantity or dimension other than in the standard unit.
  5. Section 11(2) states that sub-section (1) is not applicable for export of any goods, things or service. Export means taking out of India to a place outside India (section 2(d)).
  6. Application: Kaveri Exports is a company and therefore a person under section 2(m)(v). Its goods are being taken out of India.

Answer: The Act ensures accuracy and public guarantee in weighing and measuring, extends to the whole of India and came into force on 1 March 2011. Section 11 does not apply to Kaveri Exports' exported goods, by section 11(2).

Exam tips

  • Learn section 2 definitions in groups: people, things, activities. This helps you recall them quickly in short notes.
  • Quote the key words of definitions such as pre-packaged commodity and legal metrology officer. Paraphrasing loses marks when elements are missed.
  • In fact-based questions, apply each element of the definition separately before concluding.
  • Cite section numbers only when you are sure. Section 1, 2, 11 and 18 are safe to cite from this topic.
  • Link definitions to later provisions: pre-packaged commodity leads to section 18, and obstruction of officers is dealt with in section 40.

Practice questions from Legal Metrology

Legal Metrology Act 2009: Introduction and Definitions: frequently asked questions

What is the main objective of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009?

It deals with units of weighment and measurement, methods and instruments, with mandatory requirements that give the public a guarantee of accuracy and security. Section 2(g) defines legal metrology in this way. The Act came into force on 1 March 2011.

What is a pre-packaged commodity under the Act?

Under section 2(l), it is a commodity placed in a package of whatever nature, sealed or not, without the purchaser being present, so that the product has a pre-determined quantity. All these elements must be met.

Who is a legal metrology officer?

Section 2(h) lists the Additional Director, Additional Controller, Joint Director, Joint Controller, Deputy Director, Deputy Controller, Assistant Director, Assistant Controller and Inspector appointed under sections 13 and 14. The Director and Controller are defined separately.

Does the Act apply to the whole of India?

Yes. Section 1(2) says the Act extends to the whole of India. Section 11(2) exempts export of goods, things or service from the standard-unit requirement of section 11(1).