Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

1. Introductory Text

2. PART I INTRODUCTORY

   1. 1. Title and commencement

   2. 2. Interpretation

3. PART II STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT

   1. 3. Northern Ireland local standards

   2. 4. Northern Ireland working standards and testing and stamping equipment

4. PART III WEIGHING AND MEASURING FOR TRADE

   1. 5. Meaning of “use for trade”

   2. 6. Units of measurement, weights and measures lawful for use for trade

   3. 7. Dual marking and conversion charts

   4. 8. Multiples and fractions of units

   5. 9. Weighing or measuring equipment for use for trade

   6. 9A. Approval of persons to verify equipment manufactured etc. by them

   7. 9B. Testing by official EEA testers

   8. 10. Approved patterns of equipment for use for trade

   9. 11. Provisions supplementary to Article 10

   10. 12. General specifications of equipment for use for trade

   11. 13. Regulations relating to weighing or measuring for trade

   12. 13A. Pre-test stamping by certain manufacturers

   13. 14. Offences in connection with stamping of equipment

   14. 15. Other offences in connection with equipment

5. PART IV PUBLIC WEIGHING OR MEASURING EQUIPMENT

   1. 16. Keepers of public equipment to hold certificate

   2. 17. Provision of public equipment by district councils

   3. 18. Offences in connection with public equipment

6. PART V REGULATION OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS IN GOODS

   1. 19. Transactions in particular goods

   2. 20. Offences in transactions in particular goods

   3. 21. Quantity to be stated in writing in certain cases

   4. 22. Short weight, etc.

   5. 22A. Non-compliance with certain requirements of the FIC Regulation

   6. 23. Pleading of warranty as defence

   7. 24. Additional defences and safeguards for traders

   8. 25. Offences due to default of third person

   9. 26. Special powers of inspector with respect to certain goods

   10. 27. Powers of inspector with respect to certain documents

   11. 28. Check-weighing of certain road vehicles

   12. 29. Selling by quantity, making quantity known, and weighing in presence

7. PART VI PACKAGED GOODS

   1. Interpretation of Part VI . . . . . . . . . ....

      1. 30. Interpretation of Part VI

   2. Quantity control

      1. 31. Duties of packers and importers of packages

      2. 32. Enforcement

      3. 33. Defences to offences under Article 32

      4. 34. Special provision for certain packages

   3. Co-ordination of control

      1. 35. Functions of the Department under Part VI

   4. Miscellaneous

      1. 36. Disclosure of information

      2. 37. Power to modify Part VI

      3. 38. Regulations under Part VI

8. PART VII MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS

   1. 39. Function of Department

   2. 40. Inspectors of weights and measures

   3. 41. General powers of inspection and entry

   4. 42. Obstruction of inspectors

   5. 43. Power of Department to provide adjustment service

   6. 44. Employment of inspectors for provision of certain other services

   7. 45. Offences in connection with office of inspector

   8. 46. Prosecution of offences

   9. 47. Penalties

   10. 48. Regulations and orders

   11. 49. Department to report to Assembly

   12. 50. Application to Crown

   13. 51. Supplemental provisions with respect to fees

   14. Art. 52 rep. by 1996 NI 2

   15. 53. Other savings

   16. 54. Consequential amendments and repeals

9. SCHEDULES

   1. SCHEDULE 1

      MEASURES AND WEIGHTS LAWFUL FOR USE FOR TRADE

      1. PART I LINEAR MEASURES

         1. Metric system

            1. 2. Measures of— 50 metres 2 metres 30 metres 1.5 metres 20 metres 1 metre 10...

      2. PART II SQUARE MEASURES

         1. Metric system

            1. 2. Measures of, or of any multiple of, 1 square decimetre.

      3. PART III CUBIC MEASURES

         1. Metric system

            1. 1. Measures of, or of any multiple of, 0.1 cubic metre.

            2. 2. Measures of— any multiple of 10 litres 10 litres 100 millilitres 5 litres 50 millilitres...

      4. PART IV CAPACITY MEASURES

         1. Imperial system

            1. 1. Measures of— 16 pints 8 pints 4 pints 2 pints 1 pint 2/3 pint ½...

         2. Metric system

            1. 2. Measures of— any multiple of 10 litres 125 millilitres 10 litres 100 millilitres 5 litres...

      5. PART V WEIGHTS

         1. Imperial system

            1. 2. Weights of— 500 ounces troy 0.4 ounce troy 400 ounces troy 0.3 ounce troy 300...

         2. Metric system

            1. 3. Weights of— 25 kilogrammes 3 grammes 20 kilogrammes 2 grammes 10 kilogrammes 1 gramme 5...

            2. 4. Weights of— 500 carats (metric) 1 carat (metric) 200 carats (metric) 0.5 carat (metric) 100...

      6. PART VI SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS ON USE FOR TRADE

         1. 1. No person shall use the ounce troy for trade except for the purposes of transactions...

         2. 2. No person shall use the carat (metric) for trade except for the purposes of transactions...

         3. 3. No person shall use a capacity measure of 35 millilitres, 70 millilitres, 125 millilitres, 150...

         4. 4. No person shall use the pint for trade except for— (a) the purposes of the...

         5. Para.5 rep. by SR 1995/227

         6. Para.5 rep. by SR 1995/227

   2. SCHEDULE 2

      UNITS OF MEASUREMENT LAWFUL FOR USE FOR TRADE

      1. PART I MEASUREMENT OF LENGTH

         1. Metric units

            1. Kilometre

            2. Kilometre

            3. Metre

            4. Metre

            5. Decimetre

            6. Decimetre

            7. Centimetre

            8. Centimetre

            9. Millimetre

            10. Millimetre

      2. PART II MEASUREMENT OF AREA

         1. Metric units

            1. Hectare

            2. Hectare

            3. Decare

            4. Decare

            5. Are

            6. Are

            7. Square metre

            8. Square metre

            9. Square decimetre

            10. Square decimetre

            11. Square centimetre

            12. Square centimetre

            13. Square millimetre

            14. Square millimetre

      3. PART III MEASUREMENT OF VOLUME

         1. Metric units

            1. Cubic metre

            2. Cubic metre

            3. Cubic decimetre

            4. Cubic decimetre

            5. Cubic centimetre

            6. Cubic centimetre

            7. Hectolitre

            8. Hectolitre

            9. Litre

            10. Litre

            11. Decilitre

            12. Decilitre

            13. Centilitre

            14. Centilitre

            15. Millilitre

            16. Millilitre

      4. PART IV MEASUREMENT OF CAPACITY

         1. Imperial unit Metric units . . . Hectolitre . . . Litre Pint Decilitre ....

         2. Imperial unit Metric units . . . Hectolitre . . . Litre Pint Decilitre ....

      5. PART V MEASUREMENT OF MASS OR WEIGHT

         1. Imperial unit

            1. . . .

            2. . . .

            3. Ounce troy

            4. Ounce troy

         2. Metric units

            1. Tonne

            2. Tonne

            3. Metric tonne

            4. Metric tonne

            5. Kilogramme

            6. Kilogramme

            7. Hectogramme

            8. Hectogramme

            9. Gramme

            10. Gramme

            11. Carat (metric)

            12. Carat (metric)

            13. Milligramme

            14. Milligramme

      6. PART VI SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS ON USE FOR TRADE

         1. 1. No person shall use the ounce troy for trade except for the purposes of transactions...

         2. 2. No person shall use the carat (metric) for trade except for the purposes of transactions...

         3. 3. No person shall use the pint for trade execpt for— (a) the purposes of the...

         4. Paras. 4, 5 rep. by SR 1995/227

         5. Paras. 4, 5 rep. by SR 1995/227

   3. SCHEDULE 2A

      APPROVALS UNDER ARTICLE 9A

      1. PART I APPROVALS: GENERAL

         1. Fees

            1. 1. Where— (a) any person makes an application for an approval, or (b) an approval is...

         2. Form, effect and conditions of approvals

            1. 2. (1) An approval shall be in writing and, unless previously withdrawn in accordance with any...

         3. Suspension of approvals

            1. 3. (1) If it appears to an inspector that, otherwise than in accordance with Article 13A,...

         4. Withdrawal of approvals

            1. 4. (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the Department may by written notice withdraw an approval if...

         5. Grant of new approval following withdrawal

            1. 5. (1) Where the Department decides, whether in the light of representations or otherwise, that an...

         6. Application for further approval

            1. 6. (1) This paragraph applies where, not less than three months before the end of the...

      2. PART II REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET BY APPROVED VERIFIERS

         1. Maintenance of quality system

            1. 7. (1) An approved verifier shall maintain in force such systems and procedures (in this Part...

         2. Preparation etc. of quality system manual

            1. 8. (1) An approved verifier shall prepare and keep up-to-date a quality system manual, that is...

         3. Keeping of records

            1. 9. An approved verifier shall keep a record of every test carried out by him of...

   4. Schedule 3 rep. by SR 1989/69

   5. SCHEDULE 4

      SAND AND OTHER BALLAST

      1. PART I GENERAL PROVISIONS

         1. 1. In this Schedule, “ballast” means any of the following materials, that is to say— (a)...

         2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3, ballast— (a) if made up in advance ready for retail sale...

         3. 3. There shall be exempted from the requirements of paragraph 2— (a) ballast in a quantity...

         4. 4. Without prejudice to Article 13, no article shall be used for trade as a cubic...

         5. 5. In measuring any ballast against a calibration mark on such a receptacle as aforesaid, the...

      2. PART II CARRIAGE OF BALLAST BY ROAD

         1. 6. The provisions of this Part shall have effect with respect to the carriage of ballast...

         2. 7. (1) If any of the ballast is being carried for delivery to a buyer in...

         3. 8. If all or any of the ballast on the vehicles is being carried in such...

         4. 9. Any document required by paragraph 7 or 8 shall at all times during the journey...

         5. 10. In the case of any document such as is mentioned in paragraph 7, if at...

   6. SCHEDULE 5

      SOLID FUEL

      1. PART I GENERAL

         1. 1. This Schedule applies to goods of any of the following descriptions (in this Schedule referred...

         2. 2. (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), solid fuel shall be sold only by net weight. (2)...

         3. 3. (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), solid fuel— (a) if made up in advance ready for...

         4. 4. Solid fuel shall be sold by means of, or offered or exposed for sale in,...

         5. 5. (1) This paragraph applies to any vehicle on or from which any solid fuel available...

         6. 6. Any person who, with intent to defraud or deceive, damps any solid fuel shall be...

         7. 7. (1) This paragraph applies to any vehicle which is used on highways for carrying solid...

         8. 8. An order under Article 19 may amend or repeal this Part.

      2. PART II WEIGHING OF SOLID FUEL AT BUYER'S REQUEST

         1. 9. If in the case of any solid fuel sold otherwise than by means of a...

         2. 10. Where a request under paragraph 9 is made in respect of the whole load of...

         3. 11. Where after weighing in pursuance of a request under paragraph 9 the weight of the...

      3. PART III CARRIAGE OF SOLID FUEL BY ROAD

         1. 12. This Part shall have effect with respect to the carriage by a road vehicle on...

         2. 13. (1) If the vehicle is carrying any relevant goods for delivery to a buyer in...

         3. 14. (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), if all or any of the relevant goods on the...

         4. 15. Any document required by paragraph 13 or 14 shall at all times during the journey...

   7. SCHEDULE 6

      MISCELLANEOUS GOODS OTHER THAN FOODS

      1. PART I LIQUID FUEL AND LUBRICANTS

         1. 1. This Part applies to— (a) liquid fuel, lubricating oil and any mixture of such fuel...

         2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3, goods to which this Part applies— (a) unless pre-packed, shall be...

         3. 3. Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 2, liquid fuel— (a) when not pre-packed may be sold by...

      2. PART II READY-MIXED CEMENT MORTAR AND READY-MIXED CONCRETE

         1. 1. This Part applies to ready-mixed cement mortar and ready-mixed concrete.

         2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3, any goods to which this Part applies— (a) if made up...

         3. 3. There shall be exempted from the requirements of paragraph 2 any goods in a quantity...

         4. 4. Part II of Schedule 4 except sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 7 of that Schedule, shall...

      3. PART III AGRICULTURAL LIMING MATERIALS, AGRICULTURAL SALT AND INORGANIC FERTILISERS

         1. 1. This Part applies— (a) to agricultural liming materials, other than calcareous sand; (b) to agricultural...

         2. 2. (1) Goods to which this Part applies which are not pre-packed, other than liquid fertilisers,...

         3. 3. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 4 shall have effect as if any reference in...

      4. PART IV PEAT AND WOOD FUEL

         1. 1. Subject to paragraph 2,— (a) peat or wood fuel which is not made up in...

         2. 2. There shall be exempted from the requirements of paragraph 1 any sale of peat or...

         3. 3. Any person, who with intent to defraud or deceive, damps any peat or wood fuel...

      5. PART V COSMETIC PRODUCTS

         1. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

         2. 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

         3. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

         4. 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

      6. PART VI SOAP

         1. 1. Subject to paragraph 2,— (a) soap in the form of a cake, tablet or bar...

         2. 2. There shall be exempted from the requirements of this Part— (a) liquid soap in a...

         3. 3. (1) In this Part “soap” does not include any soap which is a cosmetic product...

      7. PART VII MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO BE SOLD BY OR MARKED WITH LENGTH

         1. 1. This Part applies to goods of any of the following descriptions, that is to say,...

         2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3, goods to which this Part applies— (a) unless pre-packed, shall be...

         3. 3. There shall be exempted from all requirements of paragraph 2 goods of any description in...

      8. PART VIII MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO BE SOLD BY OR MARKED WITH NET WEIGHT

         1. 1. This Part applies to— (a) distemper; (b) articles offered as feed for household pets, being...

         2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3 goods to which this Part applies— (a) unless pre-packed, shall be...

         3. 3. There shall be exempted from all requirements of this Part— (a) distemper or paste paint...

      9. PART IX MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO BE MARKED WHEN PRE-PACKED WITH NET WEIGHT

         1. 1. This Part applies to— (a) Portland cement; (b) cleansing powders and scouring powders; (c) detergents,...

         2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3, goods to which this Part applies shall be pre-packed only if...

         3. 3. There shall be exempted from the requirements of this Part goods of any description in...

      10. PART X MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO BE SOLD BY OR MARKED WITH CAPACITY MEASUREMENT

          1. 1. This Part applies to antifreeze fluid for internal combustion engines, linseed oil, paint (other than...

          2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3 goods to which this Part applies— (a) unless pre-packed, shall be...

          3. 3. There shall be exempted from all requirements of this Part goods of any description in...

      11. PART XI MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO BE MARKED WHEN PRE-PACKED WITH CAPACITY MEASUREMENT

          1. 1. This Part applies to enamel, lacquer, liquid detergents, liquid paint remover, petrifying fluid and rust...

          2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3, goods to which this Part applies shall be pre-packed only if...

          3. 3. There shall be exempted from the requirements of this Part— (a) liquid detergents in a...

      12. PART XII MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO BE SOLD BY OR MARKED WITH NET WEIGHT OR CAPACITY MEASUREMENT

          1. 1. This Part applies to— (a) polishes; (b) dressings analogous to polishes; (c) pea seeds and...

          2. 2. Subject to paragraph 3 goods to which this Part applies— (a) unless pre-packed, shall be...

          3. 3. There shall be exempted from all the requirements of this Part— (a) pea or bean...

      13. PART XIII MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO BE MARKED WHEN PRE-PACKED WITH QUANTITY BY NUMBER

          1. 1. This Part applies— (a) to cheroots, cigarettes and cigars; (b) to postal stationery, that is...

          2. 2. Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4, goods to which this Part applies shall be pre-packed...

          3. 3. In relation to postal stationery, the reference to number in paragraph 2 shall be construed...

          4. 4. There shall be exempted from the requirements of this Part any goods in a quantity...

   8. SCHEDULE 7

      COMPOSITE GOODS AND COLLECTIONS OF ARTICLES

      1. 1. (1) This paragraph applies to any goods which, not being pre-packed, and not themselves being...

      2. 2. (1) This paragraph applies to any goods which, not being aerosol products and not themselves...

      3. 3. (1) This paragraph applies to aerosol products containing any goods required by or under any...

      4. 4. (1) This paragraph applies to any collection of two or more items which, not itself...

      5. 5. There shall be exempted from any requirement of paragraph 1, 2 or 3(2)(b) food of...

   9. SCHEDULE 8

      (1) Instructions given to a person by an inspector in pursuance of Article 32(3) shall...

      1. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

      2. 1. Instructions given to a person by an inspector in pursuance of Article 32(3) shall not...

      3. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

      4. 2. Where in pursuance of paragraph 1 a person gives to an inspector notice of objection...

      5. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

      6. 3. Where instructions are referred to the Department in pursuance of paragraph 2, the Department shall—...

   10. SCHEDULE 9

       (1) (1) An inspector may, on production if so requested of his credentials, at all...

       1. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

       2. 1. (1) An inspector may, on production if so requested of his credentials, at all reasonable...

       3. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

       4. 2. Where a justice of the peace, is satisfied by complaint in writing and on oath—...

       5. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

       6. 3. (1) An inspector entering any premises by virtue of paragraph 1 or 2 may take...

       7. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

       8. 4. Where an inspector has reasonable cause to believe that an offence under Article 32 or...

       9. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

       10. 5. (1) The Department may purchase goods, and may authorise any of its officers to purchase...

       11. This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

       12. 6. A person who wilfully obstructs an inspector acting in pursuance of this Schedule or Part...

   11. Schedule 10—Amendments

   12. Schedule 11—Repeals