It’s there to make sure businesses sell correct quantities, and you get what you pay for. Consumers and businesses both benefit and can help their local weights and measures officials enforce the law and help to keep a fair marketplace. Call charges may vary. The Weights and Measures Act sets out rules for selling goods by quantity in New Zealand. Think of examples --  a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, a liter of wine, a yard of cloth, a pound of hamburger, or a cord of firewood. If you do not see one, ask the store manager. In Westchester County, the Weights & Measures Division is within the Department of Consumer Protection. The Fair Trading Act and the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act are enforced by the Commerce Commission, an independent Crown entity monitored by MBIE. These inspections will be scheduled at intervals determined by the use that the equipment is put to and the likelihood that it may wear and become inaccurate. Post independence Acts such as the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Monopolistic Restrictive And Unfair Trade Practices Act, 1969, Standard of Weights And Measures Act, 1976 etc. They act as a third party to help maintain fairness and keep the marketplace in balance. See Quantities above for information on the prominence of the quantity information. How can consumer ensure that any Weights & Measures is standard or not? DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES’ OFFICE OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES – Mailing address is on the form For further assistance call our Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-552-9963 if calling from Virginia, or (804) 786-2042 if calling from the Richmond area or from outside Virginia. Equipment that is used to weigh or measure goods for consumers must be suitable for the quantity being determined and accurate within specific tolerances. The Weights and Measures Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. Non-prepacked goods that are weighed at the request of the customer must have their unit price indicated to the customer by price per kilogram. Some goods traditionally sold in smaller quantities are allowed to be priced in smaller units where this allows the customer a better indication of the value of the goods. The weights and measures community includes a wide range of organizations and functions:  Businesses that sell to the public, manufacturers of the measuring instruments (scales and metering devices) used in direct sale and in the packaging of goods;  Manufacturers that package the wide variety of goods available to consumers, producers When selling goods and providing services, in most circumstances, the consumer must be informed of the selling price in writing, An overview of 'average quantity' and what is required of packers or importers of packaged products, It is essential that oil and gas are accurately weighed or measured when sold and delivered, The weight of solid fuel must be specified; this also applies to wood if a relevant bye-law exists, or you opt to show weight, Businesses who sell products in containers provided by consumers are subject to a variety of legal requirements, The correct abbreviations (symbols) to use when indicating units of weight or volume for trading purposes, Requirements for the sale of alcohol in pubs, restaurants, etc, The three rules of packing to the average-weight system for small bakers, Requirements for butchers regarding products sold loose and/or prepacked, Requirements for fishmongers regarding products sold loose and/or prepacked, Requirements for greengrocers regarding products sold loose and/or prepacked, Weighing equipment that is used for legal and trading purposes is required to be accurate and appropriate for its purpose. Vendors Must Give Correct Weight It is illegal for a seller to mislead the consumer about the nature or quantity of goods being transacted. Through the Weights and Measures Programme, Enterprise Singapore aims to protect consumers and traders by regulating weighing and measuring instruments used for trade, and the net content of prepackaged products. Examples of this are sugar confectionery and chocolate, herbs, spices and coffee - these can be price marked per 100 g. In larger self-service shops, goods that are sold by weight or measure are required to display an equivalent unit price for goods sold with an indication of quantity - for example, equivalent price per 100 g (or 100 ml). If weighing and measuring equipment is found to be not of the required accuracy when inspected, the inspecting officer may issue instructions to have the equipment adjusted. The Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act of 1985 is enacted by the Central Government with a view to enforcing the Standards of Weights and Measures. Without standard measurements, it would be difficult to do simple things like use cookbooks or buy carpeting, laundry detergent and fabric. Contact your weights and measures office if seals are missing. The content on Business Companion is written and verified by expert contributors, but is not designed to be a replacement for professional advice and is intended only for guidance; only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law. Nearly all measurable goods must have their quantities stated in metric amounts - for example, kilograms, litres or metres. The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (Rules) prescribe the mandatory technical and legal requirements relating to standards of weights and measures for goods which are sold or distributed in India. The division is empowered through the Consolidated Weights and Measures Act, Title 3 Pa C.S.A. We also keep consumers informed about the latest product safety information. (vii) Weights and measures Act. This equipment is then subject to periodic inspection for accuracy and continued conformity by trading standards officers who are qualified in weights and measures. This site contains impartial free information, and is Government-backed. This assures consumers of the measuring instruments’ accuracy (e.g. Business Companion covers trading standards law for England, Scotland and Wales. Equipment used for consumer sales is required to be 'Government stamped'; this refers to markings that show the equipment has been made to a particular standard and meets accuracy requirements. Local weights and measures authorities. Enterprise Singapore oversees consumer product safety regulations to ensure that the products suppliers put on the market are safe. Advice about checking seals added. Consumer enquiries from England, Scotland and Wales are handled by the Citizens Advice Consumer Service who can be contacted by telephone on 03454 04 05 06. A seal is usually put on to show that the equipment was tested and found correct. For hundreds of years, your local weights and measures officials have been working behind the scenes to protect consumers, businesses, and manufacturers from unfair practices. A consolidated version (PDF, 796KB, 26 pages)of the regulations has been produced to show the changes made since they were originally made. Consumers must be able to see what the quantity is for goods required to be sold by weight or measure. The basic objective of the SWM(Enf.) How do you know you're getting what you pay for? For more detailed information please see the In-depth Guides below. Do Your PartIf you have a problem with a weights or measures issue: Or, contact Weights and Measures at (914) 995-2179. also incorporate various measures of Consumer protection. The Standards of Weights & Measures(Enforcement) Act of 1985: 1. Consumer enquiries in Northern Ireland are handled by ConsumerLine who can be contacted by telephone on 0300 1236262. The law also covers the manufacture and approval of this equipment, and lays down requirements about specific quantities in which certain goods must be sold. We store cookies on your computer to help us improve this website. This act protects users from false marks which could mislead the consumer and hence cheat them in the ground of quality of the product. • Trade description act-ensures that producers and traders do not cheat consumers by providing false description on the products they offer. This for reference only and has n… The rules on selling goods by weight or measure: quantity, labelling, equipment and inspections, If you weigh or measure goods to sell to consumers, the law states that your equipment must be both suitable and accurate. c. 18) The Weights and Measures Act 1893 (56 & 57 Vict. All states have laws and regulations regarding weights and measures. The ultimate objective is to Protects the interests of consumerObjectives: The Act enlists the following objectives – Establish standards of weights and measures. Most UK weights and measures legislation is enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards (or the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland). This means that the equipment cannot be used again until it has been repaired to the requirements of the TEC and re-stamped. Look for seals Weights and measures officials test weighing devices such as gasoline pumps and scales. Note that the pint must be used for draught beer, lager and cider; milk in returnable bottles may also be sold by the pint. You don't carry a scale or measuring tape with you to check the weight or measure of everything you buy. Can I afford this? The Standards of Weights and Measures Act protects the right against the goods which is underweight or under measured. The working standard weights and measures that Inspectors take out with them to test weighing and measuring equipment are tested against local standards that never leave the office. We work to protect businesses and consumers by ensuring these measurements are correct. In addition, the county equipment is regularly checked out by the state to make sure that the county scales are accurate. Weights & Measures is tasked with the annual inspections on many devices throughout the state, including but not limited to Fuel Dispensers, Scales and Timing Devices. Is this the best buy? Goods sold by weight, volume, length or number must be: accurately weighed, measured or counted (iv) Food and drug Act. The litigation asserts products labelled, for example, "2x4" are not really 2" by 4" and the use of nominal sizes in representations to consumers constitutes fraud and violates state consumer protection laws. The Standards are established by the Standards of Wwights and Measures Act of 1976. Equipment that is used to weigh or measure goods for consumers must be suitable for the quantity being determined and accurate within specific tolerances. Weights and Measures Act 1904 or 4 Edward VII c. 28. The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976. Did this site answer your question? So, the Consumer Protection Act was passed in 1986 to offer the necessary protection to consumers and provide an elaborate mechanism to deal with consumer grievances and disputes. Uniform weights and measures among state and local jurisdictions facilitate trade, allow for fair competition among businesses, and ensure consumer protection because consumers are provided with accurate and easy to understand information about the products they are purchasing. OR (i) Rent and tribunal Act. The Office for Product Safety and Standards works closely … The regulations require consumers to be informed on quantity and protect against short measure, while allowing businesses flexibility to control quantity on the production line within specific tolerances. They also inspect weighing and measuring equipment and packages at warehouses, packaging plants, feed mills, shipping companies, lumberyards and gasoline stations. They could be as frequent as every six months or as far apart as five years. c 21) The Weights and Measures (Purchase) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. Almost everything we buy is sold either by weight, volume, length, count or measure. Some fruit and vegetables are not included as they can be counted easily through the packaging. Equivalent 'imperial' quantities - such as pounds, ounces, pints and yards - can be given in addition to the required metric indications, but they must not be more prominent. Weights and Measures Act 1985; Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016; Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008; Consumer Rights Act 2015; Last reviewed / updated: June 2020 In this update. Some products have to be sold in particular quantities: For detailed information, check the specific In-depth Guides below for the items you sell. Use the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's postcode finder to locate your local trading standards team. Enterprise Singapore is one of the agencies entrusted to protect consumers, by administering consumer product safety regulations, as well as the Weights and Measures Act. Government stamps generally take the form of either: 1. a lead plug embedded into the equipment on which is stamped a numbered crown and year ... or 2. a seri… For business-specific advice on complying with the regulations, contact your local Trading Standards service. Weights are tested using equipment that the National Measurement Office refer back to the copy of the international prototype of the kilogram kept at their premises. Business enquiries are dealt with by your local council. Notices giving consumers specific information, eg about used cars, water efficiency or country of origin. Where serious fraud is suspected involving the use of weighing and measuring equipment it could be seized, followed by possible legal proceedings. The seal may vary from state to state, but always look for a seal. Other legislation is enforced by MBIE (eg the Weights and Measures Act) or must be self-enforced by the complainant (eg the Consumer Guarantees Act). Consumer Protection. The Trade Marks Act, 1999. Measuring equipment that has tested as inaccurate or no longer conforms with other requirements will have a six-pointed star stamped on or attached to it. Ans. The Devon Metrology Lab. (v) Setting up standards. Your rights when buying goods by weight or measure Your rights when buying goods by weight or measure As a purchaser of goods that are sold by quantity (weight, measure or number), you have rights under the Weights and Measures Act and Regulations. Recent Amendment. It's hard to be a smart consumer today. Look out for this if you're buying second-hand equipment. unwrapped loaves of bread without any weight indication given: 400 g or 800 g or any other multiple of 400 g, wine: 125 ml, 175 ml or multiples of 125 ml or 175 ml, whisky, gin, rum or vodka: 25 ml or 35 ml or multiples of 25 ml or 35 ml, a lead plug embedded into the equipment on which is stamped a numbered crown and year, a series of stickers attached to the equipment, weighing machines, used for fruit and vegetables, sweets, meat, fish, postal services, etc, beer glasses and automatic measuring meters, alcoholic spirits measures ('optics') and 'thimble' measures, commonly known as 'yardsticks' but which must now be metre measures used for material, fabrics, ribbon, electrical cable, etc, flexible tapes, used for carpet and other floor coverings. The Trade Mark Act 1999: c. 19) 20th century. Am I getting my money's worth? The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, whose role is to enforce the Consumer Protection Act 2005 (Amended 2012) and a range of additional legislation, promoting competition and fair trading, for the benefit of all Jamaicans. How many employees are there in your business? The Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006(SI 2006/659) set out a programme of quantity control for packaged goods. Consumers and businesses both benefit and can help their local weights and measures officials enforce the law and help to keep a fair marketplace. Inspectors from the division use highly accurate equipment to inspect scales, meters, scanning equipment and packaged products at supermarkets. The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is a government agency under the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, whose role is to enforce the Consumer Protection Act 2005 (Amended 2012) and a range of additional legislation, promoting competition and fair trading, for the benefit of all Jamaicans. Generally the law requires the majority of food, drink and other goods sold to the public to have their quantities indicated for the customer. The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA or Act), enacted in 1967, directs the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration to issue regulations requiring that all "consumer commodities" be labeled to disclose net contents, identity of commodity, and name and place of business of the product's manufacturer, packer, or distributor. If you are in any doubt about your legal responsibilities with regard to the topics on this site and would like more guidance, start by getting in touch with your local trading standards service; you can find their contact details by using the search tool on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute website. 8. Once you've finished, make sure you look at the full range of Quick Guides to see whether there are any other areas of law that affect your business. A seal is usually put on to show that the equipment was tested and found correct. This is to allow consumers to compare the relative values of similar products that are sold in different quantities. (ii) Public health Act. Equipment used to buy and sell gold, silver, etc has different requirements to that used to sell potatoes. These provisions of the Act are for the protection of the Consumer. 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