Legal Metrology Model Approval
Before you manufacture or import any weight or measure for trade in India, Section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 requires you to get its model approved. The application goes to the Director of Legal Metrology on the Model Approval System, a recognised laboratory tests the model, and the Central Government issues the certificate of approval. We prepare the file and follow it through.
What it is
Model approval is the government’s check on the design of a weighing or measuring instrument before it is sold. Your scale, fuel dispenser or measuring tape is tested once as a “model”. If it passes, every unit you make to that design can then be verified and stamped for use in trade. Picture a Faridabad unit launching a new digital platform scale: the model is approved once, then production units go for state verification.
Section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 says every person, before manufacturing or importing any weight or measure, must seek approval of its model in the prescribed manner. The manner is set by the Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011. You apply to the Director of Legal Metrology, Department of Consumer Affairs, on the Model Approval System at lm.doca.gov.in. A recognised laboratory tests the model, the Director recommends it, and the Central Government issues the certificate of approval.
Each approved model gets an approval mark: the letters IND, the last two digits of the year of issue, the laboratory’s code number and the model’s code number.
Who it applies to
You make weighing or measuring instruments
Makers of scales, weighbridges, fuel dispensers, flow meters and other instruments for trade or protection need approval for each new model before production.
You import instruments for sale
An importer needs model approval for the imported model, and separate registration with the Director under Section 19, on top of an Importer-Exporter Code.
You are changing an approved design
A new model or changed design can need fresh testing. Substitute materials are tested at half the normal fee.
Why it matters
Make and import lawfully
Section 22 makes approval a precondition. Without it you cannot lawfully make or import the instrument, and the state Controller cannot verify it for use in trade.
Give every unit a traceable mark
The approval mark on each instrument links it to a certificate with test results and sealing points. Buyers and verifying officers get one clear reference.
Avoid the 2026 penalty ladder
The Jan Vishwas amendments raised the stakes for repeat defaults under Section 32. A second failure can attract a penalty of up to ₹5 lakh.
Documents required
About the applicant
- Full name and address of the applicant
- Company, LLP or firm registration documents and PAN
- Importer registration under Section 19, for importers
- Authorisation of the person signing
About the model
- Description and trade name of the model
- Metrological characteristics (capacity, accuracy class and similar)
- Drawings, installation plans and circuit diagrams, at least two copies
- Photographs and user manual
- Details of safety and sealing devices
For testing
- Testing fee paid to the recognised laboratory
- The model itself, sent to the lab or tested at your premises
- Any foreign approval certificate, for imported models
How it works
Confirm that approval is needed
We confirm the instrument is a weight or measure under the Act and not one of the exempt items in Section 22, such as beam scales or cast iron weights.
Prepare the technical file
With your engineering team, we put together the drawings, circuit diagrams, manuals, photographs and metrological details Rule 5 asks for.
Apply on the Model Approval System
We file the application to the Director on lm.doca.gov.in and arrange the testing fee to the recognised laboratory.
Send the model for testing
The recognised laboratory tests the model, at the lab or at your premises, and reports its findings to the Director. Testing is done by the lab, not by us. In practice, most delays come from incomplete drawings, so we check the file before it goes.
Collect the certificate and the model
If the Director is satisfied, the Central Government issues the certificate with the model’s code number. Collect the model from the lab within six months.
What the certificate covers
Rule 11 lists what a certificate of approval contains. Its conditions bind every unit you make.
| Item in the certificate | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|
| Certificate number and model description | Must match what you actually manufacture |
| Approval mark (IND, year, lab code, model code) | Goes on each instrument made to the model |
| Category of weight or measure | Fixes the use the model is approved for |
| Summary of test results | Useful for buyers and tenders |
| Special conditions for manufacture and verification | Followed at the state verification stage |
| Sealing locations | Where the verifying officer seals the instrument |
Timelines
Apply before production starts
Section 22 requires approval before manufacturing or importing. Apply well ahead of your launch or first shipment.
Treat a provisional certificate as short-term
Where a provisional certificate is issued under Rule 8(6), it cannot remain valid for more than one year from its date of issue.
Collect the model within six months
Under Rule 6, a model not taken back within six months of approval or refusal is forfeited to the Central Government.
What happens if you skip model approval
First default brings an improvement notice
Since 1 May 2026, Section 32 says a person who fails to submit a model for approval is first warned with an improvement notice.
Second default costs up to ₹5 lakh
A second offence attracts a penalty that may extend to ₹5 lakh under the amended Section 32.
Later defaults cost ₹10–20 lakh
For subsequent offences, the fine is not less than ₹10 lakh and may go up to ₹20 lakh. The certificate can also be suspended or revoked under Rules 13 and 14.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the certificate of approval of model?
The Central Government issues it, on the recommendation of the Director of Legal Metrology. A recognised laboratory tests the model and sends its findings to the Director, who examines the report and recommends approval. The Director then authenticates the certificate, and each approved model gets its own code number. This is a central approval, so the same model approval works across states.
What is the government fee for model approval?
The testing fee under Rule 19 is ₹10,000 for a mechanical type model and ₹25,000 for a digital or electronic type model. It is paid to the recognised laboratory by demand draft or online. Testing a substitute material costs 50% of the applicable fee. If the lab tests at your premises, you also bear the travel costs. The rules fix these amounts, so you can budget ahead.
Do imported weighing instruments need model approval?
Yes, Section 22 applies before importing as well as before manufacturing. The importer must also register with the Director under Section 19. If the model is already approved in another country, the authority may approve it without a test, or after such test as it thinks fit, if it conforms to Indian standards. Here is the catch: the authority decides how much testing to ask for. Share your foreign approval with us and we will use it in the file.
Which instruments do not need model approval?
Section 22 exempts cast iron, brass, bullion and carat weights, beam scales, and length measures other than measuring tapes that are ordinarily used in retail trade for textiles or timber. Capacity measures of up to 20 litres used in retail trade for kerosene, milk or potable liquor are also exempt. If your product is outside these items, assume approval is needed and we will confirm.
Where is the model tested?
A recognised laboratory tests it. Under Rule 4, a lab needs suitable equipment, qualified staff, the right environment, proper records and NABL accreditation to be recognised. Testing can happen at the lab or at your premises, with travel costs borne by you. The lab checks accuracy, performance under varied conditions and protection against fraud. We coordinate with the lab, so your engineers have one point of contact.
What changed for model approval in 2026?
The penalty in Section 32 changed from 1 May 2026 under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026. A first failure to submit a model now draws an improvement notice, a second offence up to ₹5 lakh, and later offences ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh. The improvement notice gives you a chance to set things right.
Is model approval the same as a manufacturer licence?
No, they are separate. Model approval under Section 22 is a central approval of the design. The manufacturer’s registration certificate under Section 23, called a licence until 1 May 2026, comes from the state Controller of Legal Metrology. A manufacturer usually needs both, plus verification and stamping of instruments before use. We can plan all three together. LMPC registration for pre-packed goods is a separate matter again.
Can an approved model be suspended or revoked?
Yes. Under Rule 13 it can be revoked if the model fails the standards, has reliability defects or breaches the certificate’s conditions. Under Rule 14 it can be suspended if you do not manufacture to the approved specifications. You get a reasonable opportunity to show cause first. Build every unit exactly to the approved model and you stay safe.
Do we need fresh approval if we change materials?
Possibly. Say a fuel dispenser maker switches a housing component to a new alloy. Rule 18 deals with substitute materials, and the testing fee for a substitute material is 50% of the normal fee under Rule 19. A change that alters the model’s metrological characteristics may need a new approval. Tell us what you plan to change before you change it, and we will tell you which route applies.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
| Testing fee under Rule 19 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mechanical type model | ₹10,000 |
| Digital or electronic type model | ₹25,000 |
| Substitute material testing | 50% of the applicable fee |
Ready to begin?
Send us your instrument’s datasheet and drawings, and we will prepare your model approval application and see it through to the certificate.