The Department of Consumer Affairs is organizing a one-day ‘National Workshop on Legal Metrology
Act, 2009’ on 9 May 2022 to take deliberations from all stakeholders on the issue of decriminalization of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, keeping a balance between consumers and industries. Decriminalization of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 is considered to ease doing business by removing unnecessary interference.
Additionally, the workshop’s objective is to ensure that the consumer is not short-shifted by the use of non-standard weights & measures and incorrect disclosure without increasing the burden on businesses and hindering economic growth. This workshop aims for stakeholder consultation to identify the success of decriminalizing the Legal Metrology Act to facilitate Ease of Doing Business and protect consumers’ interests.
The workshop will be presided by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, and Commerce, Industry. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Environment, Forest & Climate Change Shri Ashwini Choubey and Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Rural Development Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti will also grace the occasion and address the participants.
The key issues for consideration of decriminalization of Legal Metrology Act, 2009 are: Decrease the burden on businesses and inspire confidence amongst the investors; Focus on economic growth and protection of consumer interest; Mens rea (malafide/ criminal intent) plays an important role in the imposition of criminal liability – therefore, it is critical to evaluate nature of non-compliance, i.e. fraud as compared to negligence or inadvertent omission; and
Habitual offenders for repetition of non-compliance.
All stakeholders comprising Ministers, Secretaries, Controllers of Legal Metrology of State Governments, Industries, VCOs etc. will participate in the workshop.
