Government Moves to Standardize Moisture Meters for Fair Agricultural Trade

The government proposes to include moisture meters in the Legal Metrology Rules to measure moisture in cereal grains and oilseeds, promoting transparency in agricultural trade. The Department of Consumer Affairs held a meeting discussing draft rules, which are open for public feedback until June 2024. Stakeholders support the proposed amendment.

The government has introduced a proposal to incorporate moisture meters in the Legal Metrology Rules, aiming to measure moisture levels in cereal grains and oilseeds. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance transparency in agricultural trade practices.

The Department of Consumer Affairs recently convened a meeting with various stakeholders, including manufacturers, scientific institutions, laboratories, and State Government Legal Metrology Departments, to discuss the draft rules. The meeting, chaired by Secretary Nidhi Khare, sought feedback on the proposed regulations, with a deadline for public comments set for June 2024.

Stakeholders unanimously supported the amendment, highlighting its importance for farmers and traders. The proposed rules would standardize the technical specifications, test methods, and permissible errors for grain moisture meters, ensuring accuracy and fairness in commercial transactions within the agriculture sector.