Provisions of the LMPC are designed to safeguard the interests of consumers. The role of legal metrology in consumer protection is essential. It forbids deceptive advertising, unfair commercial practices, and imprecise measurement, all of which influence customers’ judgments about what to buy. Fair and transparent markets are ensured in large part by legal metrology.
How to Start a Pre-Packaged Commodity Business in India?
To start a pre-packaged commodity business in India, it is crucial to have LMPC registration. The legal metrology in consumer protection is one of the main aims of LMPC certification. In order to have a successful business that is liked by the consumers and is in compliance with all the regulations of the pre-packaged commodity business, an LMPC registration is required.
Which Certifications are Necessary for Packaged Commodity?
LMPC certification is necessary for packaging commodities. The manufacturer and the final customer are separated by a number of middlemen. It is challenging to assign responsibility for differences in quantity and quality. To make educated purchase decisions, the end user needs to have access to all pertinent information about packaged items, such as the expiration date, weight, and price. LMPC registration is necessary for packaged commodities, as legal metrology in consumer protection also plays a crucial role.
What is Legal Metrology?
As per the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, the Metrology Department of Consumer Affairs must provide a Legal Metrology Certificate before any packaged goods, including food items, consumer products, and export goods, can be sold or distributed in India. The scientific study of measuring is known as metrology. Standards for the control of measurements and measuring equipment are provided by legal metrology. In addition to being crucial for fair commerce, legal metrology protects consumers, merchants, the environment, and public safety. The range of weights and measures has expanded as a result of significant improvements in weighing and measuring procedures brought about by advances in science and technology.
What is LMPC Certification?
Any company that engages in producing, marketing, distributing, importing, and packaging pre-packaged goods must have an LMPC certification, which stands for Legal Metrology packaged commodities. Another name for it is the Importer’s License. The Legal Metrology Packaged Commodity Certificate is intended to uphold market integrity, safeguard consumers, and guarantee fair trade. It confirms that the packed food satisfies the weight, measurement, and labelling criteria set out by law.
Who needs an LMPC Certificate?
LMPC certificate is important for:
- Anyone who imports goods in packages into India.
- Every Importer in India Weighs and Measures.
- All Indian Manufacturers and Sellers of Packaged Goods.
Objectives of Legal Metrology Consumer Certificate
The objectives of a legal metrology consumer certificate are to uphold market integrity, safeguard consumers, and guarantee fair trade. It confirms that the packed food satisfies the weight, measurement, and labelling criteria set out by law. Accurate measurements are guaranteed, fraudulent acts are stopped, and market openness is encouraged by the certificate. Additionally, it guarantees that customers get the right amount and caliber of the goods they buy. The certificate facilitates informed purchase decisions and promotes a fair and trustworthy trade environment for both consumers and enterprises by ensuring established units of measurement and appropriate labelling.
List of Items covered under this certificate
Below are the items covered under this certificate:
| Milk powder | Un- canned package of butter |
| Baby Food | Materials may be that can be constituted as beverages |
| All types of Biscuits | Edible oils, vanaspati, ghee and butter |
| Types of Fruits | Tea |
| Weaning Food | Coffee |
| Bread, brown bread(excluding bun) | Cereals and pulses |
| Detergent (in powder) | Rice powder, flour, suji, rawa |
| Salt | Soaps (bath soap, toilet soap, detergent soap) |
| Aerated soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages | Mineral and drinking water |
| Cement in bags | Aerosol products |
| Paint(solid paint, base paint, enamels), varnish | |
Role of Legal Metrology for Consumer Protection
The role of legal metrology for consumer protection is given below:
- One of the vital roles of legal metrology in consumer protection is to protect the consumer’s safety and health.
- Legal metrology in consumer protection ensures that the measurements are precise and accurate.
- The next advantage of legal metrology for consumer protection is that it provides verification in relation to the pre-packaged goods.
- Overcharging can also be reduced by legal metrology. Legal metrology in consumer protection assures the customers that there is no overcharging in the goods sold.
- Legal metrology also assures that the equipment for measuring is safe. This plays the third important role of legal metrology in consumer protection.
- With legal metrology, only the correct and accurate information is provided to the customers. This is another essential role of legal metrology in consumer protection.
- Legal metrology also sees that the customers get the correct quantity as well as as per the correct weight. The role of legal metrology in consumer protection is to prevent traders from cheating the consumers.
- The LMPC certificate can play the role of arbitrator between traders and consumers. The role of legal metrology in consumer protection is to solve the problems between consumers and traders through redressal mechanisms.
There are various other steps taken to ensure legal metrology for consumer protection.
LMPC Certification by Corpbiz
Corpbiz is renowned for its ability to provide businesses with LMPC Consultation services, including legal metrology and packaged commodity registration. A team of professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in the legal compliance and regulatory affairs domains makes up Corpbiz. Our experts are versed in both legal metrology and registration for legislation pertaining to packaged commodities. Their vast experience allows them to provide customers with comprehensive and knowledgeable assistance throughout the registration process. Legal metrology in consumer protection is essential, which makes the LMPC registration very vital for the business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by guaranteeing accuracy, fairness, and openness in trade and commerce, the Legal Metrology for consumer protection holds a very significant place. Legal Metrology rules and regulations must be followed by all parties involved, including producers, traders, and consumers, in order to foster a just and equitable economy that benefits everyone. Enroll now to receive your LMPC certificate!
Frequently Asked Questions
“Pre-packaged commodity” refers to a good or service that, in the absence of the buyer, is put in any kind of package, sealed or not, with a predetermined amount of product within.
All packaged commodities, such as food, drinks, medications, cosmetics, and other consumer items, are subject to Rule 27.
Regardless of the product’s intended purpose, the Legal Metrology- Packaged Commodity Registration, or LM-PCR, is required for all goods sold pre-packaged in India. The Legal Metrology Act of 2009 served as the foundation for the LMPC rules, which went into effect in 2011.
Obtaining an LMPC certificate is a must for every Indian importer of pre-packaged products. Rule 27 of the LMPC (Department of Consumer Affairs) mandates this. Importers of pre-packaged goods have 90 days from the date they begin importing such items to apply for registration.
LMPC certifications may be awarded by the Controller of Legal Metrology for the State as well as the Director of Legal Metrology for the Center. After the application is submitted, it can take up to 20 days for the LMPC license to be issued.
The two types of LMPC certifications under the 2011 Legal Metrology Pre-Packaged Commodities Rules are as follows: Rule 27’s LMPC Packer & Manufacturer Registration and the LMPC Importer Registration.
You must adhere to the legal metrology for packaged commodities as established by the Legal Metrology Act, 2011, if your company sells or distributes packaged products in India, including consumer goods.
Yes, both domestically produced and imported packages are subject to the rules.
Rule 18(2) of the Rules states that “no manufacturer, packer, importer, wholesale dealer, or retail dealer shall make any offer for sale of any commodity in a packed arrangement at a price surpassing the retail sale price thereof.” Therefore, the answer is no. 26.
The Rules apply to all pre-packaged items unless specifically excluded by them. Drugs, fast food products, and packaged goods sold in quantities up to 10g or 10ml are excluded.
The certification for an LMPC import license is good for a minimum of one year or twelve months and a maximum of five years or sixty months.
Laws, norms, and regulations pertaining to LMPC import license certification as stipulated by the 2009 Legal Metrology Act. All of the changes are the same, although certain states’ revised statutes varied somewhat based on their specific requirements.
The application process for the importation of the pre-packaged goods must be started ninety days before the LMPC certificate is approved.
Read our Article: What Are The Legal Metrology Laws In India?
