Law Metrology Act 2009 regulates the importation, sale, and distribution of prepackaged goods in India. A prepackaged product is packed without a purchaser when the quantity of the product is predetermined. By registering products under this Act, a strong impression is created of consumer awareness and a reduction in unfair trade practices.

For the importation of pre-packaged goods, LMPC registration are mandatory. Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011 require all importers and packers of pre-packaged products to register under Rule 27 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. Applicants must submit their applications within 90 days of initiating import operations.

To obtain an LMPC license, goods must be handled authentically and accurately with the correct measurements. An LMPC certificate is not required for packers importing goods weighing 10 grams/millilitres or less or agricultural products weighing more than 50 kilograms.

An LMPC importer license must be obtained before importing pre-packaged goods for sale or distribution in the country under Rule 27 of the Legal Metrology Packaged Commodity Rules.

Such importers or manufacturers selling pre-packaged commodities in one state must apply to the Controller of Legal Metrology in that particular state, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Importers selling in more than one state must register with the Center’s Director. Local manufacturers who sell their products in multiple states are also subject to the same rules

• GST Certificate
• IEC certificate
• MSME Certificate
• Pan Card
• Adhaar Card
• Rent Agreement
• Manufacture Name, Address, Email Id & Phone no.

Both the State’s Controller of Legal Metrology and the Centre’s Director of Legal Metrology are entitled to grant LMPC certificates. The LMPC license may take up to 20 days to be issued after the application has been received.

The licensee must follow the rules and regulations set out by the Legal Metrology Department.Violations of the Legal Metrology Packaged Commodity Rules can result in fines of up to Rs. 4,000. When an importer applies for an LMPC certificate more than 90 days after beginning imports, he or she will have to pay a late fee.

Import licenses are valid for a minimum of one year, i.e. 12 months, and a maximum of five years, i.e. 60 months.

Exemptions from LMPC registration for companies importing pre-packed goods into India are as follows:

• In the case of packaged goods weighing less than 10 grams or 10 millilitres.
• The weight of agricultural production packages exceeds 50 kilograms.
• Restaurant or hotel packaged cooked fast foods.
• Chemical formulations covered by the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 1995.

Exemptions under Chapter 2 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 include:

• Except for cement and fertiliser packages, which usually weigh about 50 kilograms, packages heavier than 25 kilograms or 25 litres are prohibited.
• Industrial or institutional consumer packages.

The following steps will guide you through obtaining your LMPC certification:

• Importer license applications are available from the LMPC
• A completed application form must be submitted
• The required documents must be attached
• Payment for LMPC registration must be processed
• Obtain your LMPC certificate from the portal online

Following the filing of the declaration, the importer obtains either the LMPC license or the LMPC Importer License Registration certificate online. To import the product(s), they must show that certificate to the customs clearance authorities at the ports.

Any importer must comply with the Rules of Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities (LMPC), released in 2011, before importing any goods.

All prepackaged commodities must be declared by the importer/manufacturer with the following information:

• Importer and manufacturer’s names and addresses
• A general description of the contents of the package
• Origin of import
• The quantity measured or weighed in standard units
• Importation and manufacturing dates
• MRP (Maximum Retail Price)
• Dimensions and size of the goods
• Contact details of a complaint-handling person or office

It is mandatory for the packaging to display a given structure, whether the declaration is in Hindi or English.