FAQs About Model Approval Certificate
Q1. What is the LMPC certificate for Model Approval in India?
A. The Legal Metrology Department issues a Model Approval certificate as per Section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. The approval is issued to the manufacturers and importers of weights and measuring products.
Q2. What is the process of model approval application for a weighing scale?
A. The standard application process involves application filing, document submission, and sample testing. If the product meets the Indian metrology standards, the applicant is issued the model approval.
Q3. What preconditions must the applicant observe before applying for the Model certificate?
A. As per the Legal Metrology Model Approval rules, the weights and measuring product of the importer or the manufacturer must meet the regulatory requirements of the Legal Metrology Department.
Q4. What is the eligibility to apply for the weight and measurement certificate?
A. Before manufacturing or importing any weights or measurement units, every person must seek the LMPC certificate for Model Approval in a specified manner. The model approval for weighing scale is issued on payment of such fee by the Authority as prescribed.
Q5. Can Authority accept the measurement products with a model approved in the foreign land?
A. Yes, the Authority can, if satisfied that the model of weights or measures approved in a country outside India conforms to the standards established by the Legal Metrology Act, approve such model without any test or after such test as he deems fit.
Q6. What are the exemptions from the model approval weights measures?
A. Approval of a model is not required in respect of any cast iron, brass, bullion, carat weight, beam scale, or length measures (not being measuring tapes). These commodities are ordinarily used in retail trade for measuring textiles or timber, capacity measures not exceeding twenty litres in capacity.
Q7. What documents are required for filing a Model Approval certificate application in India?
A. To obtain the Model Approval, you must provide the following documents:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Other business licenses
- Two passport-sized photographs
- A duly filled application form
- Schematic diagram
- Description of the sealing provisions
- In case you're an importer, you have to provide a declaration stating that no changes were made to the product before it's on sale in India
- Details that you're required to input on the display pane of the package
- Receipt of the model approval fees
Q8. What is the process of obtaining the Model Approval for the manufacturer in India?
A. If the applicant is a manufacturer, the product must undergo mandatory testing by the Directorate General of the Legal Metrology Department. The steps are as follows:
- Gather the required documents.
- Fill out the application form.
- Submit the duly filled application form alongside the documents.
- Submit a sample of the product.
- The department would conduct an initial inspection of the documents.
- The sample will be forwarded to the Directorate-General for testing.
- If the product fits, you'll obtain the Legal Metrology Certificate.
Q9. What is the process of obtaining the Model Approval for the importer in India?
A. If the applicant is an importer, product testing is not required:
- Gather the required documents.
- Fill out the application form.
- Submit the duly filled application form alongside the documents.
- Submit a sample of the product.
- The department would conduct an initial inspection of the documents.
- If no errors, you'll obtain the model approval certificate.
Q10. What happens if someone fails to get their model approved?
A. If anyone fails or omits to submit a model of any weight or measure for approval will be punished with a fine. This fine can extend to twenty thousand rupees. Again, for the second or subsequent offence(s), the Authority can imprison the person for a term which can extend to one year and with a fine.