India hosts CIML meet for first time; Khare pushes for globally harmonised measurement norms

NEW DELHI: Accurate and globally harmonised measurements are fundamental to fair trade, consumer confidence and economic growth, said Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on Monday, as India hosted the 61st meeting of the International Committee of Legal Metrology (CIML) for the first time.

Addressing the inaugural session of the three-day meet, Khare said the event was "a matter of great pride" for the country.

About 70 delegates from 32 member states are attending, along with representatives of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), Paris, and several liaison organisations.


"If measures are accurate, trade is seamless, and measurement does not become a trade barrier," Khare told PTI on the sidelines of the event.

She said hosting the meeting gives Indian legal metrology officials direct exposure to developments in global trade.

Pointing to the rapid arrival of new instruments in household and commercial use, she said, "It is very important that they are harmonised and enjoy global accountability".

India, she added, needs to learn from global experience and keep its measurement framework updated to support economic growth.

Referring to the Jan Vishwas reforms of 2023 and 2026, Khare said they have decriminalised specified offences and introduced improvement notices and graded penalties, making the regulatory framework more business-friendly while retaining essential consumer safeguards.

She also highlighted the expansion of Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) to augment verification capacity and the e-Maap National Portal for integrated digital services in legal metrology.

Khare noted India's recognition as an OIML-CS Issuing Authority, which she said would facilitate international acceptance of test results and help Indian manufacturers access global markets.

She further spoke about the National Time Dissemination Project, "One Nation, One Time", which aims to provide accurate, reliable and traceable Indian Standard Time across the country.

The initiative is expected to strengthen time synchronisation in banking, telecommunications, 5G networks, navigation, digital infrastructure and power systems, she said.

CIML President Bob Joseph Matthew underscored the importance of legal metrology in ensuring fair trade, protecting consumers and facilitating international cooperation, according to a statement issued by the Consumer Affairs Ministry.

Chairing a seminar on "Evolutions in Legal Metrology", CIML First Vice-President Renee Hansson of Sweden said the discipline must adapt to digitalisation, emerging technologies and changing market requirements.

She emphasised the need for harmonised standards and closer cooperation among member states.

Anthony Donellan, Director of the International Bureau of Legal Metrology (BIML), spoke about OIML's efforts to develop harmonised technical recommendations, facilitate mutual acceptance of test results through the OIML Certification System (OIML-CS) and strengthen capacity building.

He also pointed to emerging initiatives on machine-readable standards, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

India presented its initiatives on simplifying compliance, strengthening verification infrastructure and modernising regulatory services, including GATCs, the e-Maap portal, regulation of packaged commodities, the National Time Dissemination Project, Regional Reference Standard Laboratories and the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology, Ranchi.

Experts from different countries discussed metrological requirements for electric vehicle charging equipment, mutual recognition of conformity assessment, digital transformation, stakeholder awareness and capacity building. They also deliberated on OIML's Smart Recommendations initiative, which seeks to develop machine-readable technical standards, and explored applications of AI in measurement and verification.

The OIML Strategy Workshop will be held on October 27, followed by the second session of the CIML meeting. On October 28, delegates will visit the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory to learn about its role in maintaining India's national measurement standards.

The meeting is organised annually by the Secretariat of the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) in member countries and at its headquarters.