An automated Label Switched Path (LSP) control mechanism in a packet-switched network. A metering device in an Ingress Label Edge Router (LER) determines whether a data rate for a packet flow class exceeds a predefined limit. If so, the metering device sends an LSP-setup message to a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) signaling function for setting up an LSP. When a calculated long-term data rate falls below a second predefined limit, the metering device sends an LSP-teardown message to the MPLS signaling function, which tears down the LSP. Current LSP status information and Next-Hop Label Forwarding Entries (NHLFE) information are stored in an associated database.