LMPC full form is Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities. It refers to a registration required under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
Importers, manufacturers and packers of pre-packaged commodities must mandatorily obtain the LMPC registration from the Director of Legal Metrology/State Controller of Legal Metrology to ensure compliance with the legal requirements.
In legal metrology, LMPC full form is Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities. It is a registration granted by the State Controller/Director of Legal Metrology to a business entity, allowing it to manufacture, pack or import pre-packaged commodities.
In case you’re wondering what a pre-packaged commodity is, it is simply a commodity which without the purchaser being present is placed in a package of whatever nature, whether sealed or not, so that the product contained inside has a predetermined quantity.
LMPC Registration is required by the following entities:
(i) Importer: In the context of legal metrology, an importer is an entity that brings pre-packaged commodities into India from another country. To become an importer of pre-packaged goods, the LMPC importer certificate needs to be obtained from the Director of Legal Metrology.
(ii) Packer: A packer is simply a business entity that is engaged in packaging commodities. Packers do not manufacture the underlying product on their own. Instead, they buy/receive the commodities in loose/bulk form and turn them into consumer-ready retail packages. To become a packer of pre-packaged goods, you must obtain LMPC packer license from the State Controller of Legal Metrology.
(iii) Manufacturer: A manufacturer is a business that produces/manufactures pre-packaged commodities. They may pack these goods themselves into consumer-ready retail packages. Alternatively, they may outsource bulk goods to an LMPC-registered packer to package them. To become a manufacturer of pre-packaged goods, you need to obtain LMPC manufacturer registration from the State Controller of Legal Metrology.
The benefits of LMPC registration are as follows:
The biggest benefit associated with this registration is that it allows the importers, manufacturers and packers of pre-packaged items to ensure compliance with Legal Metrology rules and operate in a legal manner.
Businesses having the LMPC license can avoid heavy fines that businesses not having this license need to pay.
LMPC importer registration allows the importers to import pre-packaged goods into goods. It ensures that the goods are not stopped or seized at customs clearance.
It helps to build a good reputation among business partners in the market. Many business partners like wholesalers, distributors and retailers avoid dealing with unauthorized businesses lacking the LMPC license. By dealing with such businesses, the partners would end up putting their own legal compliance and business operations at risk. Therefore, for business partners, dealing with a genuine LMPC-registered business is often one of the biggest priorities.
LMPC-registered businesses are required to fulfill certain labeling requirements like clearly mentioning MRP, net quantity, date of manufacture and expiry, country of origin, etc. These requirements ensure transparency. Therefore, they build consumer trust as well as protect consumers.
The process of obtaining this certification is as follows:
Step 1: First, you need to determine whether you want to apply as an importer, manufacturer or a producer. If you want to apply for the certification as an importer, you need to file an application with the Director of Legal Metrology. However, to apply for LMPC certification as a manufacturer or producer, you must file an application with the State Controller of Legal Metrology.
Step 2: Then, prepare all the necessary documents according to the applicant category. General documents include GST registration, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Import Export Code and business documents like MoA, partnership deed, etc.
Step 3: Then, fill out the application form for the LMPC certification with necessary details, including packaging declarations, and then attach all the relevant documents.
Step 4: Thereafter, submit the application form to the concerned authority as per applicant category. The process may be online or offline, depending on the category and state. While filing the application form, make sure you pay the application processing fee.
Step 5: Once the authority receives your application, it’ll carefully examine and verify the details and documents submitted. A legal metrology officer may also visit the business facility/warehouse to check compliance with legal requirements.
Step 6: If satisfied with the application and inspection findings, the authority shall issue the required LMPC certificate to you.
LMPC full form is Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities. It is a registration issued under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and LMPC Rules, 2011, to businesses dealing in import, manufacture or packaging of pre-packaged goods. If you specifically want to import pre-packaged goods, you need to apply for LMPC importer license with the Director of Legal Metrology of the central government. However, if you want to manufacture or pack pre-packaged goods, you must apply for LMPC packer or manufacturer registration with the State Controller of the Legal Metrology of the state government.
If you need assistance in obtaining the LMPC certificate, you can get in touch with Registrationwala. Our legal metrology consultants will guide you through all the requirements for obtaining this registration smoothly.
Q1. What is LMPC full form?
A. LMPC full form is Legal Metrology Packaged Commodity.
Q2. What is the validity of LMPC registration?
A. It depends on the state where you are applying for this license and whether you are applying as a manufacturer, an importer or a packer. Generally, the LMPC registration offers a validity between 1 to 5 years and can be renewed indefinitely.
Q3. Which legal metrology officer issues the LMPC packer registration?
A. The State Controller of Legal Metrology, who is the head of the State Legal Metrology Department, is responsible for issuing LMPC packer registration.
Q4. Which legal metrology officer issues the LMPC importer registration?
A. Generally, the Director of Legal Metrology, who is the head of Directorate of Legal Metrology under Department of Consumer Affairs, issues LMPC importer license.
Q5. Which rule under the LMPC Rules 2011 makes it mandatory for the importers of pre-packaged commodities to secure LMPC registration?
A. Rule 27 of Chapter VI of the LMPC Rules 2011 makes it mandatory for the importers of pre-packaged commodities to secure LMPC registration.
Hi, I'm Sachin Chawla. I’m a commerce graduate from Agra University and a Chartered Accountant (2015) with DISA certification. I focus on helping businesses with formation, management, tax and FEMA matters, business licenses and regulatory compliance, IP advisory, risk management and auditing among others. Through my articles, I aim to share my expertise and provide practical guidance in these areas.
Want to know More ?
Transform your Business.
