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The
Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules,
20131
(Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013)
[5th September, 2013]

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (n), (o) and (p) of sub-section (2)
of Section 52 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (1 of 2010), the Central Government hereby makes the
following rules, namely—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement.—(1) These rules may be called the Legal Metrology (Government
Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions.—(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires—
(a) Act” means the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (1 of 2010);
(b) “Government Approved Test Centre” means a person who has been approved by the Central
Government to undertake verification of weight or measure specified in these rules;
(c) “Principal Officer” means the Officer who is in-charge of Government Approved Test Centre;
(d) “Schedule” means a Schedule appended to these rules.
(2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined in these rules but defined in the Act shall have the
same meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.
CHAPTER II
VERIFICATION OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN GOVERNMENT APPROVED TEST CENTRE
3. Verification by Government Approved Test Centre.—(1) The weights and measures specified in the
First Schedule shall be verified by Government Approved Test Centre.
(2) Any person can apply for one or more kinds of weights and measures for verification.
CHAPTER III
APPROVAL OF GOVERNMENT APPROVED TEST CENTRE
4. General provisions relating to Government Approved Test Centre.—(1) The list of recognised
Government Approved Test Centres shall be notified from time to time.
(2) A Government Approved Test Centre recognised under these rules shall carry out verification of
weights or measures as specified in these rules and according to the specifications given in the Legal
Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 and on the recommendations of International Organisation of Legal
Metrology, as the case may be, as advised by Director, Legal Metrology from time to time.
(3) Government Approved Test Centre shall maintain Standard Weights or Measures as specified in the
Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 and other instruments and equipments as advised by the Director,
Legal Metrology.
5. Recognition of Government Approved Test Centre.—(1) Any person desirous of obtaining
recognition under these rules for carrying out verification of weights or measures specified in these rules,
shall make an application to the Director, Legal Metrology in the form as specified in the Second Schedule.
(2) The application shall be made only by the principal Officer of the said laboratory.
(3) While making recommendation for approval of a Government Approved Test Centre, the Director, Legal
Metrology shall consider the following—
(a) availability and accessibility of land and building;
(b) adequacy of measuring equipments, testing facilities and other infrastructure;
(c) availability of technically qualified man power;
(d) capacity for efficient and timely service to customers;
(e) willingness to get equipment periodically verified by secondary standard laboratory or any other
agency determinable by Director, Legal Metrology;
(f) willing to train its employees in institutions nominated by Director Legal Metrology;
(g) any other factor, which in the opinion of Director, Legal Metrology will affect proper functioning of
Government Approved Test Centre;
(h) conditions to set up;
(i) Qualifications.—The qualification of the principal officer or any of the employee of the Government
Approved Test Centre shall be equivalent to the qualification as specified in the Legal Metrology
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(General Rules), 2011 for a Legal Metrology Officer;

(j) Experience.—The principal officer or any of the employees of the Government Approved Test Centre
shall have working experience of at least three years in the field of legal metrology.
(4) The Joint Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs shall be the Competent Authority to approve the
Government Approved Test Centre who shall give such approval on the recommendation of Director.
(5) The competent authority shall grant approval under sub-rule (4), for one year and thereafter the same
shall be renewed for a period not exceeding five years at a time.
(6) The Director of Legal Metrology will issue a specific code number to each Government Approved Test
Centre for easy identification and records.
(7) In case of non-fulfilling of eligibility conditions the Director of Legal Metrology shall reject the
application and send a written communication to the applicant.
(8) Any person aggrieved by orders under sub-rule (7) may appeal to secretary of the Department of
Consumer Affairs whose decision thereon shall be final.
(9) Certificate of approval granted to any Government Approved Test Centre may be suspended by
Director of Legal Metrology in case of Government Approved Test Centre fails to comply with any terms and
conditions specified in these rules:
Provided that no such suspension shall be made except after giving to the Government Approved Test
Centre an opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action:
Provided further that the suspension shall be revoked on compliance of such terms and conditions.
(10) The Director of his authorised officer may visit the Government Approved Test Centre as and when
required and the Principal Officer shall permit inspections and render all assistance for the purpose including
the production of records with regard to verification of weights and measures.
(11) The Principal Officer shall submit a quarterly report to the Director in respect of the weights and
measures verified by them, the fee collected, time taken for each testing and such other relevant
information, as required.
(12) The Principal Officer, while verifying the weights and measures shall adopt the procedure laid down in
the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
(13) The certificate of approval granted may be cancelled by the Director if the circumstances are such
that it cannot be reasonably expected to function properly as a Government Approved Test Centre:
Provided that no certificate of recognition shall be cancelled except after giving an opportunity of being
heard.
(14) Where the certificate of approval has been granted under sub-rule (4) or suspended under sub-rule
(9) or cancelled under sub-rule (13), the Director of Legal Metrology shall ensure that the information of such
action has been given to the concerned Controlled of Legal Metrology of the State immediately.
(15) The competent authority may require Government Approved Test Centre to take out third party
liability insurance sufficient to cover any claim for damage due to any lapses or violation of Government
instructions by such Government Approved Test Centre.
(16) All the Regional Reference Standard Laboratories working under the administrative control of the
Department of Consumer Affairs function as deemed Government Approved Test Centre on the date of
publication of these rules in the Official Gazette and the provisions of these rules shall apply to such Regional
Reference Standard Laboratory as if they were Government Approved Test Centre.
CHAPTER IV
CERTIFICATE OF GOVERNMENT APPROVED TEST CENTRE
6. Duties of the principal Officer.—The principal officer of the test centre has the following
responsibilities, namely—
(i) to establish and operate the test centre as an independent unit;
(ii) to ensure that the staff of the test centre carry out their duties independently;
(iii) to inform the Director, Legal Metrology in the Department of Consumer Affairs of cessation of
operation of test centre;
(iv) to maintain the accuracy of testing equipment as per rules and directions issued from time to time;
(v) to maintain proper record of testing and certificates issued by Government Approved Test Centre;
(vi) to record and redress grievances of customers in appropriate manner;
(vii) to abide by the directions issued by Director (Legal Metrology) from time to time;
(viii) only weights or measures conforming to specification are stamped;
(ix) verification stamps are adequately protected against fraudulent use;
(x) the weights and measure received for verification and stamping should be returned by Government
Approved Test Centre after due verification within fifteen days.
7. Fee for verification or re-verification.—(1) The fee payable to test centre for verification or re-
verification of weights or measures shall be the same as specified in the Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules
of that State where Government Approved Test Centre is situated.
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(2) Any weight or measure rejected on verification shall be returned to the user for necessary repair and
after repair the weight or measure may be accepted for verification on payment of verification fee afresh.
8. Mark of verification.—(1) The Government Approved Test Centre after carrying out metrological
evaluation of weight or measure and on being satisfied that the same conforms to specification laid down
under the Act and rules made thereunder shall stamp the same and also issue a certificate of verification.
(2) The verification mark shall contain the following particulars, namely—
(i) the legend “IND” and the code number assigned to the test centre in the upper half of semi circle.
(ii) code letter for the quarter of the year and two digits for the year in the lower half of semi circle.
(3) A certificate of verification shall also be issued by the test centre as a proof of verification.
9. Inspection of records.—Every Government Approved Test Centre shall keep and retain records for five
calendar years of evaluation of weight or measure carried out by them. These records shall be produced by
the test centre before the Director (Legal Metrology) or any officer authorised by him, as and when directed.
10. Place of verification.—The test centre shall undertake verification of weights or measures either in
its authorised premises or within the limit of the district where the Government Approved Test Centre
operates.
11. Supervision of Government Approved Test Centre.—The Director or any other authorised legal
metrology officer may visit the test centre from time to time to examine whether the Government Approved
Test Centres are run as per laid down procedures and instructions issued by the Government.
12. Liability.—The Principal Officer responsible for the test centre shall be liable to the Government for
any loss, damage, legal claims.
13. Contents of Government Approved Test Centre certificate.—(1) Every certificate of approval
issued by Government shall contain the following information—
(a) the number of the certificate;
(b) name of weight and measure for which Government Approved Test Centre has been approved;
(c) the mark or code assigned to the Government Approved Test Centre;
(d) a brief statement about Government Approved Test Centre;
(e) the special conditions, if any;
(f) period for which Government Approved Test Centre approved;
(g) range for verification of weight or measure; (h) contact number for consumer redressal.
(2) Where any weight or measure is intended for a special use, the certificate of approval in relation to
such weight or measure shall indicate the special use.
(3) The Director shall cause the necessary Government Approved Test Centre certificate to be published in
the Official Gazette
(4) The Director may also cause the information referred to in the foregoing sub-rules to be published in
the journal, if any, published by the Central Government.
14. Mark to Government Approved Test Centre.—The mark assigned to the Government Approved Test
Centre shall contain the national identification letters, namely, IND, the last two digits of the year of the
issue (for example, 11), the code number assigned to the Government Approved Test Centre.
15. Revocation of certificate of Government Approved Test Centre.—A certificate of Government
Approved Test Centre may be revoked if the Central Government is satisfied on the recommendation of the
Director, Legal Metrology that the Government Approved Test Centre approved, no longer complies with the
provisions specified in the rules made under the Act, or specifically violates the directions given by Director
Legal Metrology from time to time:
Provided that no such certificate shall be revoked unless the holder of such certificate has been given an
opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action.
(2) Where the certificate of Government Approved Test Centre has been revoked, the verification work
shall be stopped by that Government Approved Test Centre immediately:
Provided that where, on such inspection, it is found that the verification of any such weight or measure
is conducted, the Director may be order, prohibit the use of such weight or measure and initiate other
appropriate penal action.
(3) Every order of revocation or suspension of certificate of approval shall be duly notified.
16. Suspension of certificate of Government Approved Test Centre.—(1) A certificate of Government
Approved Test Centre for verification of specified weights and measures may be suspended by the Director in
the event of the omission or failure on the part of the holder of such certificate;
(i) to verify the weights or measures in accordance to which the certificate relates, or
(ii) verification not conforming to the rules or standards specified in the Act and rules made thereunder, or
(iii) not complying with the conditions specified in the certificate:
Provided that no such suspension shall be made except after giving to the holder of the certificate an
opportunity of showing cause against the proposed action.
(2) Where any certificate has been suspended under sub-rule (1), the order of suspension shall not be
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vacated unless the omission or failure for which such suspension was made, has been complied and the sum
for compounding the offence has been deposited to the Government in the same form as prescribed for
applying the Government Approved Test Centre.
17. Renewal of Certificate.—The approval granted to Government Approved Test Centre may be
renewed for a period not exceeding five years at a time subsequently by the Director (Legal Metrology)
subject to the satisfactorily functioning of the centre.
18. Fees for applying for Government Approved Test Centre of weights or measures to be
deposited.—(1) A fee of Rupees Ten thousand for applying Government Approved Test Centre shall be
deposited in the form of demand draft and the same will be paid at the time of renewal.
(2) The same amount of fee shall also be deposited by the applicant at the time of addition of one or more
weight or measure for verification in the certificate of Government Approved Test Centre.
19. Expenditure on assessment or re-assessment or inspection of Government Approved Test
Centre during the calendar year.—All the expenses including transportation and accommodation, as per
the entitlement of the officer(s) and in providing the facility and co-operation for the assessment or re-
assessment or compulsory yearly inspection of Government Approved Test Centre shall be borne by the
applicant.
20. Compounding the offences.—Where it is found that any Government Approved Test Centre has
contravened the provisions specified in sub-section (1) of Section 48 may be compounded by a sum of
Rupees Fifty thousand for the first offence and by a sum of Rupees Seventy-five thousand for every
subsequent contravention.
FIRST SCHEDULE
[See sub-rule (1) of Rule 3]
Weights and Measures which shall be verified by Government Approved Test Centre:
1. Water meter
2. Sphygmomanometer
3. Clinical Thermometer
4. Automatic Rail Weighbridges
5. Tape Measures
6. Non-automatic weighing instrument of Accuracy Class IIII/Class III (up to 150kg)
7. Load cell
8. Beam Scale
9. Counter Machine 10. Weights of all categories
SECOND SCHEDULE
[See sub-rule (1) of Rule 5]
Application for Approval of Government Approved Test Centre
(1) Full name and complete address of the person/applicant;
(2) Name of the weight or measure for which Government Approved Test Centre has been applied;
(3) The detail and complete function of the applicant;
(4) NABL or Director, Legal Metrology certificate or certificate provided by any other institutions
specified in the rules;
(5) Experience details in the relevant field of the application;
(6) No. of persons employed and their particulars;
(7) Total area of the organisation including the detail of Government Approved Text Centre proposed;
(8) Qualification of Principal Officer and his deputy;
(9) Detail of the standards available with the institutions and other testing facilities;
(10) Are the officers of the applicant has acquired the training in respect of quality management
system (ISO/IEC 17025) and measurement of uncertainty from any recognised laboratory in India
and abroad;
(11) Copy of the Quality management system of the laboratory, if available;
(12) Experience in the field for testing of the weights or measures;
(13) Any other information which the applicant may consider to be useful for assessing the performance
of the applicant;
(14) Details of the Demand Draft;
(15) Jurisdiction/area for which application is made;
(16) Undertaking that person or applicant will abide by the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009
and the rules made thereunder;
(17) Consumer complaint number.
Note.—Every application shall be in triplicate accompanied by complete documents and terms and
conditions. A fee of Rs. 10,000 will be paid in the form of Demand Draft in favour of “Pay and Accounts
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Officer, Department of Consumer Affairs” payable at New Delhi at the time of applying for Government
Approved Test Centre.
THIRD SCHEDULE
(See Rule 8) Certificate of verification
Government Approved Test Centre (Name of Address) ….
No. ……………………..
Name of the Officer …………………………………
I hereby certify that I have this day verified and stamped/rejected the undermentioned weights,
measures, etc. Belonging to …. Locality ….
Quantity Denominatin Weighing instruments Measuring Verification Carriage,
instruments Fee Rs. P. conveyance
adjusting
Weights Measures Capacity Class Manufacturer Type charges
etc.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Total Rs………………………… deposited vide Money receipt. No. …………………………… dated …………………… Repaired
by/used by
……. (Signature)
Next verification due on ……………..
Principal Officer
Note.—In the case of rejected weights, measures, etc. the principal officer shall give separate certificate of
rejection mentioning the reasons of rejection against each item.
FOURTH SCHEDULE
[See Rule 14]
Certificate of Government Approved Test Centre
Government of India
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
LEGAL METROLOGY DIVISION
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL OF GOVERNMENT APPROVED TEST CENTRE
[Under Section 24 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009]
No. WM—…………(1)/2013
Dated New Delhi—…………………….2013
Certify that M/s …………………………………… ……… ………… ……… (name and address of Government Approved
Test Centre) has been approved as Government Approved Test Centre for ……………………… ……… (name of
place/district) for the verification of following weights and measures with their ranges:
(i) ………………………………
(ii) ………………………………
(iii) ………………………………
Certificate No.: GOI/Government Approved Test Centre/(two digits of the State Code)/2013/
Valid up to: …………… 2014
Director of Legal Metrology
Copy to: The Controller of Legal Metrology, Govt. ……………… of for kind information.
Note.—In case of consumer complaint please contact.………………………………”
———
1.Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Deptt. of Consumer Affairs), Noti. No. G.S.R. 593(E), dated September 5, 2013,
published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part II, Section 3(i), dated 5th September, 2013, pp. 14-23, No. 446.
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