{"id":388973,"date":"2026-07-01T14:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T09:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=388973"},"modified":"2026-07-01T14:12:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T08:42:48","slug":"government-introduces-improvement-notice-mechanism-under-legal-metrology-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/07\/01\/government-introduces-improvement-notice-mechanism-under-legal-metrology-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026: Government Introduces Improvement Notice Mechanism under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

On 27 April 2026, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution notified the enforcement of those provisions of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026<\/span> relating to the Legal Metrology Act, 2009<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These amended provisions came into force on 1 May 2026.<\/p>\n

Key Changes:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 introduces the Improvement Notice mechanism under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    The new mechanism provides regulated entities with an opportunity for regulated entities to rectify specified first-time procedural or regulatory non-compliances before penal proceedings are initiated.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    The reform advances Ease of Doing Business<\/span> (EoDB) by promoting voluntary compliance, reducing avoidable litigation, and fostering a trust-based regulatory framework.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    The mechanism applies to manufacturers, importers, packers, dealers, repairers, traders, MSMEs, and other regulated entities governed by the Legal Metrology Act.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    The mechanism covers specified first-time procedural and regulatory non-compliances relating to registration requirements, documentation and record maintenance, model approval, manufacture, sale and repair of weights and measures, import of weights and measures, transactions involving packaged commodities, and furnishing statutory information and returns.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    The Department of Consumer Affairs has clarified that the mechanism is limited to specified first-time procedural and regulatory non-compliances and does not dilute consumer protection or weaken enforcement under the Legal Metrology Act.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    Strict action will continue against fraud, repeated violations, tampering, and other acts adversely affecting consumer interests.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    The overarching objective is to strengthen trust-based governance while safeguarding consumer interests.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What is Improvement Notice Mechanism?<\/p>\n

    The Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 introduces a new clause (ea) in Section 2<\/a> of the Legal Metrology Act<\/a>, defining an “improvement notice<\/span>” as “an improvement notice issued under this Act.<\/span>” This mechanism enables a Legal Metrology Officer to issue a notice for specified first-time procedural or regulatory non-compliances, allowing the regulated entity a reasonable opportunity to rectify the deficiency before penal proceedings are initiated. If the deficiency is rectified within the prescribed period, penal action and unnecessary litigation may be avoided.<\/p>\n

    The mechanism aims to foster a more facilitative and compliance-oriented regulatory framework by:<\/p>\n