Preliminary Notification of Tamil Nadu Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011

What the notification does

The preliminary notification publishes draft enforcement rules under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. The draft extends to the whole of Tamil Nadu and was released so that people likely to be affected could submit objections or suggestions before the Government considered it.

The Government stated that the draft would be considered after fifteen days from publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. Comments were to be sent in duplicate to the Principal Secretary to Government, Labour and Employment Department, Chennai 600 009, through the Principal Secretary or Commissioner of Labour, Chennai 600 006.

Who may be affected

The Tamil Nadu Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011 primarily affect manufacturers, repairers, dealers and users of weights or measures. They can also affect businesses operating from commercial property where weighing or measuring equipment is used in transactions or for protection.

The notification does not create or change land ownership, registration, planning or land use rights. Its relevance to a property buyer or owner arises only where activities at the premises involve regulated weights or measures.

Key provisions in the draft

• Reference, secondary and working standards must be maintained, kept in the required custody and periodically verified through the specified laboratories.
• Secondary Standard balances and Working Standard balances must be maintained where the corresponding standard weights are kept. They must be verified at least once within twelve months and adjusted where necessary.
• Weights and measures used or intended for transactions or protection must meet prescribed specifications for characteristics, construction, materials, performance and tolerances.
• Bullion and precious-metal transactions must use specified bullion weights. Precious stones must use carat weights. Specified accurate weighing instruments are required for these transactions.
• Quantity declarations generally must use weight, length, area, volume or number according to how the commodity is sold, subject to commodities listed in Schedule I.
• Manufacturers, repairers and dealers must apply for licences, maintain required workshops, equipment, tools, registers and records, and display licences prominently at their business premises.
• Licences cannot be sold or transferred. Repairers must provide the specified security deposit.
• A licence may be suspended or cancelled for materially false statements or contraventions, but the holder must receive a reasonable opportunity to show cause.
• Legal Metrology Officers may inspect and test weights or measures used or likely to be used in transactions or for protection. Equipment that cannot be moved may be verified at its location, with facilities provided by the user.