India Expands Verification of Cleaner Fuel Dispensers

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution of India has announced significant amendments to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013. This regulatory change allows Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) to perform verification on hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and compressed natural gas (CNG) dispensers.

This amendment broadens the range of instrument categories eligible for verification from 18 to 23, marking a key step towards promoting cleaner fuel alternatives across the nation. According to the newly revised rules, the verification fees have been set at ₹5,000 per nozzle for petrol and diesel dispensers. In contrast, the verification for CNG, LPG, LNG, and hydrogen dispensers will incur a fee of ₹10,000 per nozzle.

The Ministry stated that the revisions aim to enhance the availability of verification services, thereby improving efficiency and supporting the increasing adoption of cleaner fuels throughout the country.

GATCs are privately operated facilities that have been authorised by the government and possess the necessary technical expertise to conduct verification and re-verification of weights and measures under the Legal Metrology Act. This framework intends to extend national verification capacity and alleviate the resource constraints faced by state government departments.

The updated regulations also empower state governments to designate additional categories of instruments for verification based on local requirements. Moreover, officials at the level of Joint Secretary and above now have the authority to approve relevant matters, which is expected to reduce processing delays.

The ministry emphasised that these reforms would allow state legal metrology departments to focus more effectively on inspections, enforcement, and addressing consumer grievances. Additionally, these changes align with the recommendations set forth by the International Organization of Legal Metrology, as highlighted in the ministry's statement. As India continues its transition towards cleaner energy solutions, these regulatory enhancements are poised to ensure accuracy and transparency in fuel dispensing operations.