Legal Metrology (LMPC) and BIS answer different questions about a product. LMPC, short for Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities), is about the package: who packed or imported it, how much is inside, its MRP and how to complain. Anyone who pre-packs or imports goods for retail sale must register under Rule 27 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 and print the mandatory declarations. BIS certification is about the product: whether it conforms to an Indian Standard, through an ISI licence or CRS registration. An imported power bank, LED bulb or helmet usually needs both.
Our LMPC registration service and BIS services cover both.
LMPC vs BIS at a glance
| Legal Metrology (LMPC) | BIS certification | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 | Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 |
| Run by | Director of Legal Metrology (Department of Consumer Affairs) and State Controllers of Legal Metrology | Bureau of Indian Standards |
| Applies to | Pre-packaged commodities for retail sale, and the businesses that pack or import them | Products notified under Quality Control Orders or compulsory registration orders |
| Who registers | The packer or importer | The manufacturer (foreign makers through FMCS or an Authorised Indian Representative) |
| What it controls | Declarations on the package: name and address, country of origin, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, MRP, unit sale price, consumer care | Conformity with the Indian Standard, mainly safety and quality |
| Testing | None for registration | Product testing at a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory |
| Mark on product | No mark; the declarations themselves | ISI mark or CRS Standard Mark with IS number and licence or registration number |
| Validity | Registration valid until cancelled, with annual updates (since May 2026) | Up to five years, renewable, with annual fees |
| Enforced by | State Legal Metrology officers, including on e-commerce listings | BIS, including searches, seizures and market samples |
What LMPC covers
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 says nobody may manufacture, pack, sell, import, distribute or offer for sale a pre-packaged commodity unless the package carries the prescribed declarations. Rule 6 lists them: the name and address of the manufacturer, packer or importer; country of origin for imports; the common or generic name; net quantity; month and year of manufacture; MRP inclusive of all taxes; unit sale price; and consumer care details.
Rule 27 adds registration. Every business that pre-packs or imports goods for sale must apply to the Director of Legal Metrology or the State Controller within 90 days of starting. Since G.S.R. 418(E) of 29 May 2026, certificates stay valid until cancelled, and registrants update their details every year. See LMPC full form and meaning.
What BIS covers
BIS certification is compulsory only for notified products. Under Scheme-I, BIS grants an ISI licence after a factory assessment and product testing. Under Scheme-II (CRS), it registers manufacturers of notified electronics and IT goods on a test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory. The product carries the Standard Mark with its IS number and a CM/L or R-number. See BIS vs ISI and ISI vs CRS.
Typical products that need both
| Product | BIS route | Legal Metrology |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion and portable batteries | CRS, IS 16046 | Importer or packer registration and Rule 6 declarations |
| Mobile phones | CRS | Same; electronics may give some details through a QR code |
| LED bulbs | CRS, IS 16102 (Part 1) | Same |
| Two-wheeler helmets | ISI, IS 4151 | Same |
| Pressure cookers | ISI, IS 2347 | Same |
| Toys | ISI, IS 9873 series | Same |
| Cement | ISI, IS 269 | Retail package rules apply to cement bags up to 50 kg |
Products sold only to industrial or institutional consumers, and packages above 25 kg or 25 litres (other than the listed exceptions), are outside the retail package chapter of the LMPC rules, but BIS still applies if the product is notified.
Where the two meet on the label
On a BIS-certified retail product, the package usually carries both sets of information:
- From BIS: the ISI or CRS Standard Mark, the IS number and the CM/L or R-number, as the BIS marking rules require. For CRS, the BIS website reference is also required.
- From Legal Metrology: the Rule 6 declarations, in the size and placement the rules set.
Neither covers the other. A carton with a perfect ISI mark but no MRP or consumer care details breaks the Legal Metrology rules, and a fully declared carton without a valid BIS licence breaks the BIS Act.
Legal Metrology model approval is different again
Legal Metrology also covers weighing and measuring instruments. Under section 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, the model of an instrument such as a weighing scale or a meter must be approved before it is made or imported. That is separate from LMPC registration and from BIS. See our Legal Metrology model approval service.
Penalties under each law
- Legal Metrology. Since 1 May 2026, section 36(1) provides for an improvement notice for a first offence of wrong or missing declarations, a penalty of up to ₹5 lakh for a second offence, and ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh for later offences. It applies to sellers, including e-commerce platforms, as well as manufacturers, packers and importers.
- BIS. Under Section 29(3) of the BIS Act, 2016, selling notified goods without a valid licence or misusing the Standard Mark can lead to imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh (₹5 lakh for later offences) that may extend to ten times the value of the goods, or both.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech is a private compliance consultancy, independent of the Legal Metrology department and BIS. We register importers and packers under Rule 27, review packaging artwork against Rule 6 before printing, and handle BIS ISI licences and CRS registrations, including for overseas manufacturers. Our team includes former BIS officers. See our LMPC registration, ISI mark certification and BIS CRS registration services.