The Legal Metrology Bill, 2026

Background

The Legal Metrology Bill, 2026 aims to modernize Kenya's regulatory landscape for trade measurements by replacing the Weights and Measures Act (Cap. 513). It sets standards to protect consumers, establish fair trading practices, and ensure the integrity of measurements used in public health, safety, law enforcement, and environmental protection.

Key Amendments

• Repeal of Cap. 513: The Bill formally repeals the Weights and Measures Act (Cap. 513).
• International Units Alignment: Formally establishes the International System of Units (SI) as the baseline for all legal measurements in Kenya.
• Kenya School of Legal Metrology: Creates a designated school to coordinate professional training and issue official certificates of qualification.
• Institute of Trade Standards Administration: Recognizes this existing body as the professional association responsible for issuing annual practicing licenses to legal metrology practitioners.

New Obligations

• Mandatory Annual Verification: Anyone using weighing or measuring instruments for trade must submit them to an inspector for annual verification and stamping (Clause 29).
• Pattern Approval: Manufacturers and importers must submit all new patterns of weighing or measuring equipment to the Director for approval before selling or exposing them for trade (Clause 34).
• Clear Labeling of Goods: Pre-packed goods must have outer packaging displaying accurate information about their weight, measure, volume, and the packer's identity (Clauses 39 & 40).
• Verification Access for Buyers: Commercial occupiers must keep suitable weighing equipment readily available and positioned so that customers can easily verify the net weight of retail purchases (Clause 56).

Penalties

• General Penalty (Clause 68): For violations under the Act where no specific penalty is defined, offenders face a fine between KSh 10,000 and KSh 5 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
• Short Weight and Adulteration (Clauses 45 & 47): Delivering a lesser quantity than purported or selling adulterated goods constitutes an offence.
• Tampering and Forgery (Clause 27): Forging, counterfeiting, or altering any stamp of verification, or defacing inspector seals is strictly prohibited.
• Obstruction of Inspectors (Clause 32): Refusing to produce instruments, documents, or obstructing an inspector during their duty is subject to prosecution.

Transitional Provisions

• Continuity of Service (Clause 80): Individuals previously appointed as Director, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, or Inspectors under the repealed Weights and Measures Act (Cap. 513) will transition and continue their duties under this Act.
• Pending Proceedings (Clause 79): All active prosecutions, disciplinary actions, investigations, or appeals initiated under Cap. 513 will proceed uninterrupted as if they were filed under this Act.
• Preservation of Certificates (Clause 82): All valid certificates issued by the Institute of Trade Standards Administration prior to this Act's enactment remain legally active.