The Weighing Equipment (Non-automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Purposes of use for trade

4.—(1) A non-automatic weighing machine marked with a weighing range may be used for trade for determining the weight of any item by ascertaining the difference between two weights (both of which fall within the weighing range), that is to say, the weight of that item and another item or items and the weight of that other or those other items only.

(2) Where a non-automatic weighing machine is marked with a weighing range, save in accordance with paragraph (1), a person shall not use that machine for trade for determining a weight outside that range in relation—

(a) to, or to articles made from, gold, silver or other precious metals, including gold or silver thread or fringe;

(b) to precious stones or pearls; or

(c) to drugs or other pharmaceutical products.

(3) A person shall not use for trade for the purpose of determining postal tariffs a machine having a digital weight indicating or printing device, unless—

(a) each of its weight indicating or printing devices has a scale interval of 1 g or less; or

(b) in accordance with the published particulars of the approved pattern, the machine is marked “For determining postal tariffs only”.

(4) A person shall not use for trade a machine carrying a marking required by the published particulars of the approved pattern or these Regulations for a purpose which does not accord with the marking.

(5) A person shall not use for trade any non-automatic weighing machine other than a machine of accuracy classification as a Class I or Class II machine in any transaction—

(a) in, or in articles made from, gold, silver or other precious metals, including gold or silver thread or fringe;

(b) in precious stones or pearls.

(6) A person shall not use a Class IIII non-automatic weighing machine for trade for any purpose—

(a) other than—

(i) for weighing ballast; or

(ii) for weighing other goods, in accordance with the published particulars of the approved pattern; or

(b) unless it is of a type described in paragraph 16(a) in Part V of Schedule 1 and first stamped before 1st August 1991, or in paragraph 16(b) or (d) in that Part for machines which cannot be classified as Class III except in the case of counter machines of the type known as “common form” and made before 1st August 1991 in accordance with the provisions of the Weights and Measures Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1967(1).

(7) A person shall not use for trade any non-automatic weighing machine for the purpose of multiple weighing.

(8) A person shall not use a Class I or Class II machine, fitted with a rider, a device for interpolation of reading or an indicating device on which the last figure is clearly differentiated from the other figures, for direct trade with the public.

(9) A person shall not have a self service weighing machine available for trade unless it complies with the requirements of these Regulations.

(1)

S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1967 No. 237 as amended by S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1971 No. 114, S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1974 No. 280, S.R. 1991 No. 266, S.R. 1993 No. 441, S.R. 1994 No. 322 and S.R. 1998 No. 48