The Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations 1994

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement the amendments made by Council Directive 89/617/EEC (OJ No. L357, 7.12.89, p.28) to Council Directive 80/181/EEC (OJ No. L39, 15.2.80, p.40) which relates to the use of units of measurement for economic, public health, public safety or administrative purposes (“the specified circumstances”).

They amend a number of Regulations made under the Weights and Measures Act 1963 or the Weights and Measures Act 1985 (“the Act”) on weighing and measuring equipment in use for trade and on local and working standards and testing equipment used by inspectors of weights and measures.

In particular the Regulations make amendments which enable supplementary indications of quantity to be given on weighing or measuring equipment which uses units in the metric system for primary indications (Part I of the Schedule). Amendments also provide for the removal of references to imperial units in relation to their use on weighing or measuring equipment and to local and working standard weights and linear and capacity measures (Parts II and III of the Schedule).

Use of weighing equipment (including weights) for which Schedule 11 paragraphs 12 and 14 of the Act make specific provision is preserved in accordance with those provisions notwithstanding the fact that this equipment makes use of imperial units that have not been authorised for some time (Part III of the Schedule).

The amendments are timed to come into operation on different dates after which certain units may no longer be used for all or for certain purposes. Thus references to the pound and the ounce are deleted from Regulations on 1st January 2000, the date on which they cease to benefit from the derogation for their use in connection with goods sold loose from bulk.

A Compliance Cost Assessment of the impact that these Regulations will have on business will be available in the libraries of the Houses of Parliament once the Regulations, having been made, are laid before Parliament and from the Consumer Affairs Division of the Department of Trade and Industry, Room 407, 10-18 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0NN.