The Department of Consumer Affairs has introduced the Improvement Notice mechanism under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026. According to the latest official statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, this new mechanism provides businesses with an opportunity to rectify specified first-time procedural or regulatory non-compliances before penal proceedings are initiated. The reform has been effected through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, as part of the government's Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) agenda. The mechanism reflects the Government's vision of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance' by promoting trust-based regulation, reducing unnecessary compliance burden, encouraging voluntary compliance and creating a transparent, predictable and business-friendly regulatory ecosystem.
The reform promotes Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) by encouraging voluntary compliance among businesses. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi emphasized that the introduction marks another step towards trust-based governance and ease of doing business. As reported by the ministry, this mechanism is designed to reduce unnecessary litigation and support a more trust-based regulatory framework while maintaining strong consumer protection standards. The initiative represents a significant shift toward a more collaborative regulatory approach that prioritizes voluntary compliance over immediate enforcement action. The mechanism applies to manufacturers, importers, packers, dealers, repairers, traders, MSMEs and other regulated entities covered under the Legal Metrology Act.
Under the new mechanism, businesses committing specified first-time procedural or regulatory non-compliances will be given an opportunity to rectify the deficiency before penal proceedings are initiated. According to the latest official statement, a Legal Metrology Officer may issue an Improvement Notice identifying the deficiency and providing reasonable time to rectify it. If the regulated entity complies within the prescribed period, unnecessary penal proceedings and litigation can be avoided. However, failure to comply with the Improvement Notice, repeated violations, fraud, tampering and other acts adversely affecting consumer interests will continue to attract action in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act. The framework is specifically designed to encourage businesses to address compliance issues proactively rather than face formal penalties.
The Improvement Notice 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, packaged commodities, and furnishing of statutory information and returns. The mechanism applies to provisions including 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 31 (Non-production of documents), Section 32 (Failure to obtain model approval), Section 34 (Sale or delivery using non-standard weights or measures), Section 36 (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 (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). The Department has clarified that the mechanism does not dilute consumer protection or weaken enforcement under the Legal Metrology Act, and is applicable only to specified first-time procedural and regulatory non-compliances.
The government stated that the reform is aimed at encouraging voluntary compliance, reducing unnecessary litigation, lowering compliance costs, and improving regulatory certainty for industry. As per the Department of Consumer Affairs, the reform strikes a balanced approach by supporting honest businesses in achieving compliance while preserving the integrity of the legal metrology system. The initiative is intended to allow enforcement authorities to focus resources on deliberate and repeated violations that affect consumer interests. The mechanism does not dilute consumer protection or weaken enforcement, with strict action continuing against fraud, tampering, repeated violations, and other acts that adversely affect consumer interests.
