• The Legal Metrology Division, which deals with the calibration of measuring instruments under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, drafted new rules for Evidential Breath Analyzers.

• These rules may be called the Legal Metrology (General) (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

• They are mentioned in the eighth schedule specifications for measuring instruments, part xiii- evidential breath analyzer.

• An evidential breath alcohol analyzer (EBA) is a device that uses end-expiratory breath air.

• It prints measurement results as the mass concentration of alcohol in a specified volume of exhaled air within specified error limits.

• Types:  

1. Stationary EBA

2. Transportable EBA

3. Portable EBA.

• To ensure accuracy, the Evidential Breath Analysers must be verified and stamped according to the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. 

• This verification protects individuals from wrongful penalties due to faulty equipment and helps maintain the integrity of legal and workplace policies.

• The draft rules have been released, which state that the analyzers follow standardized testing procedures, ensuring consistent and reliable results across different devices.

• This would help in swiftly identifying people under the influence of alcohol.

• It was ordered that the existing EBAs be verified and stamped.

• The rules have mentioned various tests to ensure the correctness of the instrument.

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