Weights and measures - Shops and businesses

The Weights and Measures Act 1985 forms the backbone of the work of the Trading Standards Service in ensuring fair trade in the market place. The Act establishes a hierarchy of standards of weight, length, area, volume and capacity. The Service is responsible for maintaining Local and Working Standards and for ensuring that all weighing and measuring equipment in use for trade is accurate.

The weight and correct labelling of all goods sold by quantity, is also controlled and the Service is involved in ensuring that consumers do not receive short weight, or measure and, in respect of pre-packed goods, that the EEC Average Quantity System is rigorously observed. Trading Standards conducts examinations of all persons carrying out weighing on public weighing equipment and issues certificates of competence where appropriate.