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  The Law on Metrology  
(The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No.    / 20 - - ) 
(      /     /20 - -  ) 
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw hereby enacts this Law.  
 
Chapter I 
Title and Definition  
1. This Law shall  be called the Law on Metrology.  
2. The Law shall regulate a uniform system of weights and measures in the 
Republic of the Union of Myanmar.  
3. The following expressions contained in this Law shall have the meanings 
given here under:  
(a)  Government mean s the Union  Government of the Republic of the Union 
of Myanmar.  
(b)  Ministry  means the  Ministry of Science and Technology.  
(c)  Department  means the department assigned by the  Ministry to 
implement the metrology activities.  
(d)  Division  means the division assigned by the Department to implement 
the metrology activities.  
(e) Council  means the National Metrology Council that is established by 
this Law. 
(f) Director General  means the Director General of the Department.  
(g) Legal metrology official  means a person assigned by National 
Metrology Institute to implement the legal metrology activities.  
(h) Metrology  is the science of measurement and its application , and 
includes all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement . 
(i)  International measurement standard  (etalon)  is a measurement 
standard  established and maintained by the International Bureau of 
Weights and Measures (BIPM).  
(j)  Measuring instrument  is a device used for making  measurements, 
alone or in conjunction with one or more supplementary devices, being 
a measuring system.  
(k)  Calibration  is a set of operation that establishes a relation between the 
quantity values with measurement uncertainties provided by 
measurement standards and corresponding indications with 
associated measurement uncertain ties. Page 2 of 9 
 (l)  Traceability  is a property of the result of a measurement or the value of 
a standard, whereby the result and standard can be related to 
international or national standards through unbroken chain of 
calibrations.  
(m)  Verification  is a set of operation to assess whether values given by 
measuring instrument are within the acceptable tolerances specified 
in a technical regulation.  
(n)  Prepackaged good s are the product which has been packaged 
without the purchaser being present and where the quantity of the 
product contained in the package cannot be altered without the 
package either being opened or undergoing a modification.  
(o)  Type evaluation  is the conformity assessment procedure on one or more 
specimens of an identified type of measuring instruments . 
(p)  Measurement standard (etalon) is the realization of the definition of a 
given quantity , with stated quantity value and associated 
measurement uncertainty  used as a reference.  
(q) Market surveillance is the inspection of measuring instruments or pre-
packaged goods bearing the required marks and placed on the 
market only after all the requirements of conformity assessment have 
been met.  
4. For terms and definitions not mentioned in Section  3, the  definitions given in 
the International Vocabulary on Metrology (VIM) and in the International 
Vocabulary on Legal Metrology (VIML) shall apply.  
 
Chapter II 
Objectives  
5. The objectives of the Law are as follow s: 
(a) to enable  transparen cy, harmoniz ation , accura cy, and equit y among 
all relevant stakeholders including the Government   involved in trade, 
transactions, and the supply of services;  
(b) to support industrial growth by providing metrology services to private 
and relevant Government  organizations;  
(c) to protect the national interests and legal rights of individuals and 
organizations;  
(d) to support the national economy in raising the quality of goods and 
services; and,  Page 3 of 9 
 (e) to create the favorable conditions for fair trade at the national and 
international level.  
 
Chapter III 
National Metrology Council  
6.  (a) The Government shall form the National Metrology Council  in which not 
more than twelve members to include the following:  
(1) A person assigned by the Government       Chairman  
(2) Representatives from Ministries  and  
Experts in metrology                                                          Member  
(3) Representatives from non -governmental 
organizations  in trade and commerce                   Member  
(4) Director General or his/her representative        Secretar y 
(b) The Council has the authority to establish committees and sub-
committees deemed  necessary.  
(c) The Government may structure  and amend the Council formed under 
Sub-section (a) as may be necessary.  
7. The functions and duties of the Council  are as follows:  
(a) study ing the needs  and priorities of the country for metrology and 
mak ing recommendations to the Government;  
(b) coordinat ing the actions of the various ministries related to 
metrological issues in order to ensure consistency;  
(c) develop ing a National Metrology Policy in cooperation  with all 
concerned ministerial departments;  and 
(d) ensur ing that laws and regulations on metrology are in accordance 
with relevant international agreements.  
8. The Council - 
(a) may  authorize the Department to carry out the functions and duties 
described in Section 7  as needed.  
(b) shall have the authority to make the administrative decision of the  
dispute s arisen  between a  legal metrology official  and any other 
person . 
 
 
 
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 Chapter IV 
National Metrology Institute  
9. The National Metrology Institute is established within the Department  to 
carry out scientific  and industrial  metrology,  and legal metrology activities. The 
institute shall include the Division  of Scientific and Industr ial Metrology and the 
Division of Legal Metrology.  
10. The functions and duties of the Division  of Scientific and Industrial Metrology 
are as follows:  
(a) establish ing, maintain ing and continuously improv ing the national 
measurement system of units and the national measurement standards 
in accordance with the country's needs, and to ensure participation in 
the corresponding international activities;  
(b) establish ing and maintain ing traceability to the SI;  
(c)  disse minat ing the legal  units of measurements to provide traceability 
to the national measurement  standards  for industry and other ministrie s;  
(d) carry ing out research work on the improvement of national 
measurement system ; 
(e) provid ing the necessary advice and support ing to the government, 
industry, commerce and the public on metrological issues;  
(f) provid ing calibration services to industry and other ministries;   
(g) provid ing a sound metrological basis to th e national accreditation  
system; and  
(h) provid ing education, training and consultancy on metrology as 
required in the country . 
11. The functions and duties of the Division  of Legal Metrology are as follows:  
(a)  protection of all participants in the market for goods and services by 
ensuring equity and correctness in all trade;  
(b) conducting surveillance inspections at all levels (manufacturer, 
importer, distributor and retailer) in the market to ensure that 
consumers receive fair measurement and that legal require ments are 
met;  
(c)  carrying out type evaluation activities in legal metrology, or 
designating supervising  bodies for this function;  
(d)  establishing legal requirements for metrology;  
(e)  establishing conformity assessment for measuring instruments, 
products and activities regulated by the law or regulations;  and Page 5 of 9 
 (f)  supervision of measuring instruments, products and activities 
regul ated by the law or regulations.  
 
Chapter V 
Legal Units of Measurement  
12. The legal units of measurement in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar 
are as follow s: 
(a)  International System of Units (SI), adopte d by the General Conference 
of W eights and Measures ; 
(b)  units used for quantities that are not covered by the SI, as specified by 
a rule or regulation ; 
(c)  customary units which are required for particular applications, as 
specified by a rules or regulation . 
13. The use of units other than legal units may be accepted in applications for 
which international conventions, agreements or treaties  prescribe those specific 
units that Myanmar is a participant.  
 
Chapter VI 
System  of Measurement Standards  
14. The system of measurement standards of the Republic of the Union of 
Myanmar is as follow s: 
(a)  Primary Measurement Standards or National Measurement Standards 
independently realize the legal units; they are regularly compared 
with other national primary  measurement  standards. The national  
measurement standards shall in all cases be  measurement standards 
with the  highest accuracy in the Union . 
(b) Secondary Measurement Standards  are measurement standards  
established through  calibration  with respect to a primary measurement  
standard for a quantity of the same kind .  
(c) Working Measurement Standards  are measurement standards for 
calibration equipment and measu ring instruments in general use  and 
calibrated against secondary measurement  standards.  
 
 
 
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 Chapter VII 
Basic Principles of Regulations  
Measuring Instruments  
15. The regulations shall be made - 
(a) to set up metrological requirements and legal control provisions 
applicable to  measuring instruments . 
 (b)  to comply with  International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) 
procedures  and the international standards . 
Measurements  
16. The regulations shall be made - 
(a) to define quantities to be referred to in legal transactions for various 
methods of sale, to prescribe that certain measurements are to be 
the basis of transactions or law enforcement activities, and to define 
the list of measurements subject to legal metrol ogical requirements.  
(b) to define the metrological requirements and the legal control 
provisions applicable to these measurements in order to ensure 
confidence in the measurement results.  
Prepackaged Goods  
17. The regulations  shall be made - 
(a)  to set u p metrological requirements and legal control provisions 
applicable to the quantity of product in prepackages offered or 
presented for sale or sold.  
(b)  to follow the requirements stated in OIML D1 and international 
standards related to prepackage goods.  
 
Chapter VIII 
Conformity Assessment Bodies for Legal Metrology  
18. The Department  shall recognize competent bodies  or persons  to perform 
conformity assessment tasks in application of legal metrology regulations. These 
bodies shall be competent and impartial. They shall perform their tasks in a non -
discriminatory manner.  
19.  The conformity assessment recognized bodies shall com ply with the 
provisions of Articles 5 and 6 of the WTO/TBT Agreement, with the exception of 
the obligation to notify proposed conformity assessment procedures.  Page 7 of 9 
 20. The Department  will recognize competent conformity assessment bodies of 
foreign countries that participate in international or regional Mutual Recognition 
Arrangements.  
 
Chapter IX 
Market Surveillance  
21.  Market surveillance is the inspection of measuring ins truments and pre -
packaged goods on the market and service  that: 
(a) are labelled   in the required language and in the correct position;  
(b) have undergone metrological control in the form of conformity 
assessment, type approval and initial verification as required; and,  
(c) comply with relevant laws , rules  and regulations.  
 
Chapter X 
Responsibilities and Authorities of Legal Metrology Official  
22.  The legal metrology official  is charged with  performing the following 
functions :  
(a)  assuring that weights and measures in commercial services within the  
Union  are suitable for their intended use,  properly installed, and 
accurate, and are so maintained by their owner  or user ; 
(b)  preventing unfair or deceptive dealing s by weight or measure in any 
commodity or service advertised,  packaged, sold, or purchased within 
the Republic of the Union of Myanmar;  
(c) promot ing uniformity to the extent practicable and desirable, 
between weight and measure requirements among  other agencies ; 
(d)  maintain ing legal control on prepackages ;  
(e) perform ing verification and inspection o f measuring  instruments 
subject to legal  control;  
(f) affixing rejection marks and/or remove conformity  marking;  and 
(g) perform ing surveillance on the bodies appointed.  
23. The legal metrology officials , upon presentation of their credentials and in  
the discharge of their duties,  shall - 
(a) have access to all industrial establishments , commercial  premises or 
vehicles where measuring equipment  subject to legal control is 
installed, maintained  or used, or where prepackages are filled, 
labeled, kept or  offered for sale.  Page 8 of 9 
 (b) be empowered in line with  national  judicial procedures to issue stop -use, 
hold, and  removal orders with respect to any measuring  instruments 
subject to legal control  that are not in compliance with this Law.  
(c) be empowered according to  national  judicial procedures to seize  
without formal warrant for use as evidence any measuring instrument,  
package, or commodity found to be used, retained  or offered for sale or 
sold in violation of the  legal metrology requirements . 
 
Chapter XI 
Dispute Resolution  
24. The Director General or his/her designate shall carry out the following 
enforcement s to individual s or organization s who do not conform with applicable 
laws or regulations :   
(a) instruction;  
 (b) warning;  
 (c) seizure;  
 (d) removal from service;  
 (e) civil penalty;  
 (f) prosecution.  
25. If any dispute arises between a legal metrology official  and any other 
person as to the meaning or construction of  any regulation stipulated by this Law , 
such dispute shall  be determined by the Director General first , and then as 
necessary may appeal to the Council  within 60 working days . The administrative 
decision made by  the Council shall be final and conclusive.      
26. In the event that a dispute on metrology is international, a dispute shall be 
remedied under either domestic law, an existing contract, or under international 
agreements and treaties to which the  Republic of the  Union of Myanmar is a 
party.  
 
Chapter XII 
Offences  
27. Any activities described in the following which contradict to any regulation 
stipulated by this Law or by related mandatory requirements referred to in this 
Law, shall be offences.  
(a)  Fraud or intended fraud in connection with measurements;  
(b) Impersonating a legal metrology official;  Page 9 of 9 
   (c)   Using measurement units not legalized by Section  12; 
(d) Using measuring instruments used in legal metrology which have not 
been submitted to the legal control;  
  (e)   Being not to comply with obligations to keep records;  
(f)  Affixing false conformity markings or affixing conformity markings 
illegally on measuring instruments;  
 
Chapter XIII 
General Provisions  
28. The Department  shall bear the expense and do office works of the Council.  
29. Fees for activities conducted in accordance with this law are prescribed by 
the Department.  
30. Existing rules, regulations, by -laws, notifications, orders, directives and 
procedures before the commencement of this Law shall remain in operation in so 
far as they  are not contrary to this Law until and unless they are repealed or 
amended.  
31. In implement ing the provisions of this Law : 
(a) the Ministry shall issue rules, regulations and by -laws  deemed 
necessary.  
(b) the Department shall issue notifications, orders, directives and 
procedures deemed necessary.    
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I hereby sign under the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.  
           
          sd/ - - - 
          President  
               Republic of the Union of Myanmar