The Weights and Measures (Quantity Marking and Abbreviations of Units) Regulations 1987

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations consolidate with amendments the Weights and Measures (Marking of Goods and Abbreviations of Units) Regulations 1975, as amended. Part II makes provision as to the manner in which quantities are to be marked on those containers of goods which are required to be marked under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 with information as to quantity. They also make provision for the units of measurement to be used in marking the containers required to be marked under Part IV of the Act. Part III makes provision with respect to the abbreviations of (or symbols for) units of measurement which may lawfully be used for trade, other than for the purpose of marking weighing or measuring equipment.

A number of detailed provisions in the 1975 Regulations have been omitted as to the manner of quantity marking having regard to the provisions for legibility and position of marking which has to be easy to understand, clearly legible and indelible and easily visible under normal conditions of purchase. Detailed restrictions on the use of fractions of imperial and metric units of measurement have also been omitted.

The separate provisions in regulation 10(7) and (8) of the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 1986, which prescribed the manner in which quantity marking statements are marked on packages sold by weight or volume under the system commonly known as “the average system”, are now replaced by these Regulations. Consequential amendments to certain other provisions of regulation 10 of the 1986 Regulations are also made.