The Weighing Equipment (Non-automatic Weighing Machines) (Amendment) Regulations 1992

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Weighing Equipment (Non-automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations 1988. They make the following changes of substance—

(a) The definitions of “automatic catchweight weighing machine” and “non-automatic weighing machine” are changed (regulation 2(a)).

(b) The abbreviation or symbol used for carat (metric) may be “ct” as an alternative to “CM” (regulation 2(b) and (i)).

(c) Person weighing machines and customer check weighing machines no longer need to be tested, passed as fit for use for trade and stamped by an inspector of weights and measures (regulation 2(c) and (k)).

(d) The provision prohibiting the use for trade of non-automatic weighing machines marked with a weighing range outside that range is revised (regulation 2(d)(i)).

(e) It is no longer a requirement that a weighing machine used for trade for retail transactions in drugs or other pharmaceutical products shall be a Class I or Class II machine (regulation 2(d)(ii)).

(f) The verification scale interval “e” for certain machines used for transactions in drugs or other pharmaceutical products is changed from Max/2000 to an interval in the range Max/2000 to Max/20000 inclusive (regulation 2(f)).

(g) The approved minimum load for certain tariff non-automatic weighing machines is defined (regulation 2(g) and (h)).

(h) The provision of a rider and certain other devices on Class II machines is no longer restricted to machines with a maximum capacity not exceeding 12 kg (regulation 2(j)).

(i) Non-automatic weighing machines, in addition to being erected in such a manner that the load being weighed is stationary, must also be so used (regulation 2(m)).

(j) The Table of weights to be used in the testing of non-automatic weighing machines is amended to take account of amendments made by the Weights and Measures (Local and Working Standard Weights and Testing Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 1991 to the Weights and Measures (Local and Working Standard Weights and Testing Equipment) Regulations 1986 (regulation 2(n)).

(k) Level indicator testing and tilt testing is only required to be carried out if the inspector considers it necessary. The requirements for eccentric load testing are modified (regulation 2(o) and (q)).

(l) The specification for Class III machines is changed to reduce the lower limit of the minimum load from 50 verification scale intervals (50 e) or 50 scale intervals (50 d) to 20 e and 20 d respectively (regulation 2(p)).