The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAFPD) on May 30, 2024, issued the Draft Rules on moisture meters for cereal grains and oilseeds for comments from stakeholders.
The following has been stated namely: -
• In the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 under the Eight Schedule after Part XI, the entries “Part XII”, “Moisture meters for cereal grains and oilseeds” shall be inserted.
• It shall apply to digitally indicating automatic grain moisture meters that directly display moisture content.
• It specifies the metrological and technical requirements, test methods, and maximum permissible errors for the type approval of grain moisture meters used in commercial transactions of cereal grains and oilseeds.
• It states that due to climatic and crop variability, the national responsible body shall specify a list of grains and commercially important moisture content ranges (at least 6 % moisture) for the grain types for which a manufacturer may seek national approval.
• It states that moisture meters shall permit the selection of grain or seeds being measured and the selection of the grain shall be identified and visible to all parties present.
• It states that when externally stored data are considered legally relevant, the data shall be protected by software means to guarantee its authenticity and integrity.
• It states that the characteristics of the standards (reference materials) shall be representative of the grain being traded in the region.
• It states that manufacturers shall provide the national responsible body with at least two instruments and an operating manual.
• It states that due to the natural variability of grain and oil seeds, grain moisture meters shall be statistically tested for accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility with natural moisture test samples for all approved grain types.
• It states that the testing laboratory shall choose well-performing moisture-stable grain samples comprising three adjacent 2 % moisture intervals within a minimum range of 6 % moisture (e.g. 10 % to 12 %, 12 % to 14 %, 14 % to 16 %) for conducting type approval testing.
The Objections or suggestions, if any, with respect to these draft rules shall be taken into consideration by June 29, 2024, and may be sent to email at: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected].
[Notification no. - I-9/8/2024-W&M]
