Rules & Regulations

Links to download .pdf file of Rules and Regulations and Application Form is given in bottom of the page.

1. Two categories of tests of farm machinery viz commercial and confidential will be carried out this centre
2. Agricultural machinery and equipments including new equipments developed by ICAR/State Government, Research Institutions as per Annexure-I, Schedule-B of No.8- 1/2004-M&T(I&P), dated 14th September 2010 only, will be considered for testing by this centre
3. Machines / equipments will be tested after receipt of written request from (Application Form, Annexure-II) Manufacturer / dealer (referred to “Applicant” hereinafter). Following may be ensured before accepting test samples: a. Full technical specifications of the test sample in prescribed format available with this testing centre with appropriate engineering drawing b. Advance test fee (Annexure -III) in the form of demand draft of any nationalized bank drawn in favour of The Dean, KCAET, KAU, Tavanur.
4. Tests will be carried out at the discretion of the Head, Farm Machinery Testing Centre, KCAET, KAU, Tavanur herein-after referred to as “Testing Authority” to whom application on prescribed form may be addressed. The centre will maintain the record for testing of equipment as given in Annexure-IV.
5. Testing of equipments will be conducted as per relevant BIS test Code available. If for any machine/ component the BIS code not available, the testing authority may consult other designated institutions /FMTTI’s/PC (FIM), CIAE, Bhopal for similar code. In case it is not available anywhere, the test procedure shall be framed by the testing authority in consultation with applicant/manufacturer etc. However, the testing of equipment may depend upon the existing / available resources i.e. land, crop, instrumentation etc. The time schedule applicable for testing of equipment is given in Annexure V as Citizen Charter.
6. The manufacture/ applicant shall supply spare parts necessary for general maintenance or minor repair to the testing authority. Unused spares will be returned to applicant after completion of test. In case of damage or break down of any component during the course of testing, the applicant, with the permission of testing authority, should replace the component with a new one having same specifications.
7. The applicant shall also supply special tools, if any, required for servicing adjustment minor/major repair of the machine along with list thereof.
8. The applicant shall supply two copies each of published literature, detailed specification, operator and service (workshop) manual and illustrated parts catalogue along with the test sample in English as well as in language. Other technical detail as specified by testing authority shall also be supplied by the applicant.
9. The operation of the machine shall be carried out according to the procedure laid down in the manufacture’s printed literature / leaflet unless otherwise specified by the applicant prior to the commencement of test. 
10. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the machine or equipments is in good working condition. In case the machine requires running in test, same will be carried in consultation with the testing authority.
11. One authorized representative of the applicant, at the discretion of the testing authority, will be permitted to witness the testing process. The representative may also be allowed to collect necessary factual data about the performance of the machine on the clear understanding that the name of the testing authority shall not be associated with data so collected or published later.
12. For conducing field performance tests on agriculture machinery, the applicant should supply all necessary attachments, jigs, fixtures etc. along with the test sample. Testing authority will not be responsible for any damage to or variation in the performance of machine to inappropriate attachments.
13. Neither the testing authority nor anybody engaged in this behalf for conducting tests will be held responsible for any accident, damage or loss whatsoever, to the machine/component/equipment/which may occur while in custody, storage, transit and/ or during the tests.
14. When special /additional parameters are to be measured during performance tests, additional expenditure as determined, at the discretion of testing authority, will be payable by the applicant.
15. The testing authority will have right to accept / deny for the test looking to the other duties assigned by the university to the testing staff.
16. The testing of machines/ components shall be commenced by the testing authority only after completion of all formalities by the applicant.
17. On completion of test and payment of testing charge in full, a copy of the “draft” test report shall be prepared by the approved / designated center and made available to the applicant for comments. The applicant shall furnish comments within 15 days. In case the applicant fails to submit comments within the stipulated time, the testing authority may release the final test report. In case of commercial test reports, such applicant’s comments which contribute technically to the contents of the test report will, at the discretion of the testing authority, be included in the test report under a separate chapter referred to as “Applicant’s Comments”
18. The test reports issued by the testing authority shall be applicable to a particular model or sample of machine/ implement / component etc. only, not to similar/ variant model.
19. The test reports issued by the testing authority shall contain only performance data/ parameters obtained on a particular sample of a model/ brand during testing by the testing authority. However, these do not communicate / signify approval / recommendation of the Government of India or the Testing authority for any Govt. programme or otherwise.
20. No interim test report shall be issued to a mechanic while under testing.
21. Various laboratory tests data viz. checking specification in full, hardness –chemical composition of soil engaging parts in case of tillage tools, measurement of capacity in respect to storage, fuel and lubricant levels etc. shall only be recorded in prescribed format.
22. All performance characteristics viz. power, capacity including matching size of prime mower or power source shall be declared by the manufacturer / applicant before starting of test. 
23. For the machines, where testing charges have not been fixed, all charges on account of test fee, stores, fuel, oils, lubricants, spare parts, general stores, workshop charges, other items as laid down by the Ministry o Agriculture, labour over-heads incurred during the test shall be borne by the applicant. It will be at the discretion of the testing authority to accept/ deny the test sample.
24. If the tests are carried out at a place other than the premises of Farm Machinery Testing Centre, KCAET, KAU, Tavanur, all transportation charge to and from the place of test, travelling allowance/daily allowance of the staff, etc. shall be borne by the applicant at the discretion of testing authority.
25. If the machine is withdrawn from test, written permission of the testing authority will have to be obtained. In such case test fee plus all other expenditure as indicated above for test conducted shall be charged. For the machine where testing charge have been fixed, entire test fee advance shall be forfeited in the event of their withdrawal from test.
26. The test charge as and when revised by this Center shall have to be paid by the applicant from the date of their applicability, even if after completion of the test the draft test report has not been released.
27. In case some parts are required by the testing authority for destructive tests, these shall be arranged free of cost by the applicant.
28. Parts or assemblies of machine worn out or damaged during test shall be replaced/ repaired by the applicant free of cost within the time specified by the testing authority.
29. The cost of fixtures etc. which are not normally available at the institute and which are found necessary for working of the machine under test and all special stores items shall be borne by the applicant.
30. The applicant will make his own arrangements to collect the machine as and when intimated by the testing authority. If the applicant fails to remove the machine as per intimation, the applicant will be liable for pay of ground rent as fixed by the testing authority for a period not exceeding one month. After the expiry of one month, one month notice will be served on the applicant by the testing authority. If the applicant fails to remove the machine within this period, the machine will become the property of the institute and may be disposed off by auction at the discretion of the testing authority.
31. If any un-patented machine or a machine in respect of which a proper application for patent has not been duly made, is submitted for test, it will not published or disclosed to the public by the Farm Machinery Testing Centre, KCAET, KAU, Tavanur and the matter will be treated as confidential so that the right of the inventor or a person claiming through him to get a patent for a machine is not prejudiced.
32. If in the course of testing a machine/ component, any invention and/or developments originate from the officers of the Farm Machinery Testing Centre, KCAET, KAU, Tavanur, this testing centre may at the discretion take out separate patents to protect the subject matter invented and/ or developed
33. If the tests on a machine submitted for confidential test have been conducted as per relevant commercial test procedure in all respects, then on the request in writing of the applicant, the testing authority, after satisfying himself may permit conversion of nature of test from “confidential” to “commercial” 
34. In case any dispute arises in respect of testing, the final decision of the Honorable Vice Chancellor, KAU, Vellanikkara will be binding upon all. However, a suit in that on behalf shall be subject to Thrissur Jurisdiction.
35. Dept. of Agriculture and Cooperation, Govt. of India / Kerala Agricultural University reserve the right to make alteration / addition in the rules and regulation