India has joined the ranks of countries authorized to issue International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) certificates. India has become the 13th country in the world that can issue OIML certificate. This announcement was made by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs on 14 September 2023 in New Delhi, marking a significant venture among the metro electronics enterprises of India.
What is OIML?
The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1955 to promote international harmony and uniformity in the field of legal metrology. Legal metrology involves the science of measurement and its application in law and regulation to ensure fairness and accuracy in business, health, safety and environmental protection. India became its member in 1956. It has 63 member countries and 64 associate members.
India became part of OIML
India has now become part of an elite group of countries including Australia, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, Britain (United Kingdom), Japan, Netherlands, Sweden and Slovakia. India is now the 13th country in the world to be authorized to issue OIML approval certificates.
Objective of International Organization of Legal Metrology
The primary objective of OIML is to develop and publish international standards and guidelines for legal metrology, facilitate mutual recognition of measurement standards and certifications, and promote global harmonization of metrological practices.
Benefits to India from OIML:-
- The move will serve as an invitation to weights and measures equipment manufacturers to operate in India.
- Both domestic and global manufacturers can now get their weighing and measuring instruments tested within the country, opening doors to sales in the international market.
- OIML Model Approval Certificate is mandatory for selling weights or measures in the international market. This can now be provided by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
- India follows OIML recommendations and procedures for testing and calibration of weights and measures. Reports prepared by Regional Reference Standards
- Laboratories of Legal Metrology are now acceptable to OIML issuing authorities.
- With this India is now the competent authority to issue approval certificates having OIML format and can act as a support system for indigenous manufacturers.
- India can now also support foreign manufacturers by issuing OIML format approval certificates from Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSLS).
- By issuing OIML certificates of weights and measures to foreign manufacturers, India will now be able to earn foreign exchange from duties etc.
This arrangement allows OIML certificates issued by certificate issuing authorities of this organization in OIML member countries to be accepted by other participants as the basis for issuing national or regional type approvals for measuring instruments. Thus other member countries of OIML can rely on these certificates to issue national type approval certificates without the need for expensive testing facilities.