If you're an importer who imports pre-packaged products and then distributes or sells them, you need oversight from a department that can watch over the quality of the import.

The Legal Metrology Department of India is that department, and it provides the said oversight by issuing LMPC Certificate. LMPC full form is the Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities - then act that governs the certification process. 

Also known as an import license, LMPC certification has to be applied for within 90 days of starting the import.

Eligibility Criteria for Importer License in India

Declarations an importer has to make before importing goods into India

As per the Legal Metrology Packaged commodity (LMPC) certificate rules, published in 2011, any importer has to comply with them and thus provide mandatory declarations before starting the import.

Declarations

They are as follows:

• Country of origin of the product
• Details of the manufacturer, including name and address
•  Address of the manufacturer
• Month and year in which the product was manufactured.
• Year when the product is to be imported.

However, the range of declarations would vary depending upon the nature of the product. For example, the declarations associated with food products would be different from declarations made for electronic or electrical products.

If the importer doesn't make the following declaration, he or she is not eligible for the LMPC certificate. 

Documents Required for Importer License in India

LMPC certificate requirements

To obtain the Importer LMPC License, you must provide the following documents.

• Certificate of incorporation
• Other business licenses pertaining to your business
• A duly filled application form
• DD of the application fee
• Details that you're required to input on the display pane of the package.

Process of obtaining the Importer License in India

Apply for LMPC certificate online

Here is the LMPC registration procedure  

LMPC registration online is impossible as no such steps exist on LMPC's official website. The offline steps are as follows:

• Get the application for Importer License from the LMPC
• Fill out the application form
• Attach the required documents
• Submit the application to the LMPC along with the LMPC certificate cost
• Get the license.

After the importer has filed the declaration, he obtains an LMPC certificate online or the Importer Registration certificate. They can show that certificate to the clearance authorities at the ports to get the product (s) imported.

LMPC certificate validity

The LMPC certificate validity for import licenses varies from one to five years.

LMPC certificate Exemptions

An LMPC certificate registration is necessary to import all pre-packaged commodities into the country. But there are some exemptions to these rules as well. The exemptions are the following:

• Commodities with a net weight or measure of 10 grams or 10 milliliters or less
• Agricultural produce in packages of more than 50 kg
• Packages containing fast food items packed by a restaurant or hotel
• Packages containing formulations covered by the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 1995

Also, according to the LPMC Act, regarding provisions for packages intended for retail sale, the Legal Metrology rules will not apply to the following:

• Packages with commodities weighing more than 25 kg or 25 liters, excluding cement and fertilizers, sold in bags of up to 50 kg
• Packaged commodities that are meant for industrial consumers  or institutional consumers