New Delhi:
The government has written to 63 manufacturers, importers and sellers of personal weighing and measuring instruments such as kitchen scales on e-commerce platforms asking whether they have met all legal standards.
The development is taking place against the background of various consumer complaints about unauthorized sales of these products on the e-commerce platforms.
Speaking to PTI, a senior consumer ministry official said, “Based on consumer and suo moto complaints, 63 announcements were made between June and August 29.”
Manufacturers, importers and sellers have been asked to provide details on model approval, manufacturing/importer/dealer license and verification of scales, the official said.
The suo moto action was taken after it was found that some manufacturers/importers of weighing and measuring instruments are selling kitchen scales and personal weighing machines without complying with the provisions of the law, the official added.
According to the Metrology Act 2009, manufacturers and importers must obtain approval of the model of their weighing and measuring instrument, the manufacturing license, the import registration and the verification/stamping platform.
Compliance with these provisions is mandatory in the interests of consumers and to regulate trade and trade in weights, measures and other goods.
Furthermore, the mandatory declaration of the product must be made on the prepackaged goods/e-commerce platform so that the consumer can make an informed choice.
The manufacturers/importers are required to keep records of the number of weighing and measuring instruments and their parts manufactured and imported, sold/distributed and details of verification fees paid to the government.
By law, violation of these rules results in fines and jail time or both.