These Regulations further amend the Weighing Equipment (Filling and Discontinuous Totalising Automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 (“the 1986 Regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends regulation 22(2) of the 1986 Regulations to provide an additional exception under which an inspector may test a filling machine notwithstanding the fact that the conditions for testing otherwise laid down are not met. This exception is where a dismantling and re-assembly or transportation of a filling machine could not affect the accuracy or functioning of that filling machine. A new regulation 23A is inserted in respect of filling machines imported from another member State or EEA State (whether directly or indirectly through Great Britain) which provides that a filling machine shall not be tested by the inspector when an inspector is presented with the “requisite documentation” (as defined in paragraph (2)(a) of that regulation), unless he is not satisfied as regard to the information contained in the requisite documentation.

A minor correction and several consequential amendments are made by regulation 2(4).

The Regulations have been notified in draft to the European Commission pursuant to Directive 98/34/EC (O.J. No. L204, 21.7.98, p. 37) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC (O.J. No. L217, 5.8.98, p. 18).