Legal Metrology Proclamation No.1344/2024.

This Proclamation establishes a legal metrology system in Ethiopia with the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and reliability of measurements and measuring instruments used in commercial transactions, public health, safety, environmental protection, and related services. It sets out rules to verify measuring instruments and to regulate the net quantity and labelling of pre-packaged products before and after market entry, in order to protect consumers and ensure fair trade. The Proclamation defines key concepts, specifies its scope of application, and excludes measuring instruments used for military and national security purposes. It confers broad powers and duties on the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration and relevant regional bodies, including the establishment and supervision of the legal metrology system, approval and verification of measuring instruments, verification of pre-packaged products, licensing of legal metrology officers and repairers, market surveillance, and enforcement measures. It mandates the use of the metric system based on the International System of Units, subject to limited recognition of standardized indigenous units. Detailed procedures are provided for the registration, type or design approval, initial and subsequent verification, inspection, and handling of measuring instruments, as well as for the verification, labelling, inspection, and certification of pre-packaged products. The Proclamation establishes offences, administrative measures, and penalties, including fines, imprisonment, suspension or revocation of certificates and licenses, and seizure or disposal of non-compliant instruments and products.