The Union Government has introduced an “Improvement Notice” mechanism under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, allowing businesses to correct first-time procedural lapses before facing penal action, a move aimed at easing compliance and reducing litigation.
The reform has been brought in through amendments enabled by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, the government said on Monday. The changes have been notified by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The Improvement Notice mechanism applies to 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 and packaged commodities; and furnishing statutory information and returns,
The Department has clarified that the Improvement Notice mechanism does not dilute consumer protection or weaken enforcement under the Legal Metrology Act. The mechanism is applicable only to specified first-time procedural and regulatory non-compliances.
Further adding that 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 or repeated non-compliance will continue to attract action in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act.
