Improvement Notice Mechanism introduced under Legal Metrology Act, 2009

• 29 Jun 2026
• 38 Views

Through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, the Department of Consumer Affairs has introduced Improvement Notice mechanism under Legal Metrology Act, 2009. This new mechanism lets businesses that commit certain first-time procedural or regulatory non-compliances to rectify their mistakes before any penalties are imposed on them. 

The intent behind this reform is to promote Ease of Doing Business. The mechanism encourages voluntary compliance, reduces unnecessary litigation and fosters a trust based regulatory framework. At the same time, it ensures strong consumer protection. 

Improvement Notice Mechanism: Key Highlights

The key highlights of this mechanism are as follows:-

• The Improvement Notice mechanism under LMA offers a supportive opportunity for regulated entities to address specific first-time procedural/regulatory non-compliances before any penal action is taken. 

• This reform aims to enhance the Ease of Doing Business, promote voluntary compliance and reduce unnecessary litigation. 

• It applies to manufacturers, importers, packers, dealers, repairers, traders, MSMEs and other regulated entities under the sector. 

• Strict actions will continue against fraud, repeated violations, tampering and other activities that negatively impact consumer interests. 

• This reform’s overall objective is to strengthen trust based governance all while safeguarding consumer interests. 

What is Improvement Notice under LMA, 2009?

If a person commits a specified first time procedural/regulatory violation under LMA, a Legal Metrology Officer may issue an Improvement Notice. This notice identifies deficiency and allows a reasonable time so that it can be rectified. If regulated entity complies within the given timeframe, it can avoid unnecessary penalties and litigation. 

With that being said, failure to comply with Improvement Notice or repeated violations will result in actions according to LMA provisions. This approach represents a shift towards a more supportive and trust based regulatory framework. It encourages voluntary compliance. At the same time, it enforces necessary regulations without any compromise.

Provisions under Improvement Notice Mechanism

The mechanism of improvement notice under the Act is applicable to specified first-time procedural/regulatory non-compliance pertaining to the following:-

• Registration requirements

• Maintenance of documentation and records

• Model approval

• Manufacture, sale, repair and import of weights and measures

• Transactions and packaged commodities

• Furnishing statutory information and returns

The following provisions of the Act are covered under the mechanism:-

• Section 25: Use of non-standard weights or measures

• Section 27: Manufacture or sale of non-standard weights or measures

• Section 28: Transactions in contravention of prescribed standards

• Section 29: Quoting or publishing non-standard units

• Section 31: Non-production of documents

• Section 32: Failure to obtain model approval

• Section 34: Sale or delivery using non-standard weights or measures

• Section 35: Rendering services by non-standard weight, measure or number

• Section 36(1): Sale of non-standard packaged commodities

• Section 38: Import of weights and measures without registration

• Section 39: Import of non-standard weights and measures

• Section 41(1) & 41(2): Furnishing false information or false returns

• Section 45: Manufacture of weights and measures without registration

• Section 46: Repair, sale or dealing in weights and measures without registration

• Section 47: Tampering with Registration Certificate

In a Nutshell

The introduction of the Improvement Notice mechanism aligns with the Government's vision of "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance." This approach promotes trust-based regulation, reduces unnecessary compliance burdens and litigation, encourages voluntary compliance and creates a transparent, predictable and business-friendly regulatory environment. 

This reform balances support for honest businesses in achieving compliance with the need to maintain the integrity of the legal metrology system and protect consumer interests. 

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)