UK Act of Parliament
1981
Northern Ireland
Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
51 compliance obligations · 2 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
26 of 51 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 9 carry different penalties and 16 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 41
- Trader 2
- Manufacturer 1
Plus 7 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Manufacturers also bound by 472 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 2016 91 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 70 duties
- The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 2021 70 duties
- Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 2016 67 duties
- Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 2015 64 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — INTRODUCTORY
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation
Part II — STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Northern Ireland local standards
Northern Ireland working standards and testing and stamping equipment
Part III — WEIGHING AND MEASURING FOR TRADE
Testing by official EEA testers
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Trading Standards must accept valid EEA test reports for equipment Statutory regulator
Pre-test stamping by certain manufacturers
Unlimited fine- Illegal stamping of equipment by a manufacturer Manufacturer
Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Meaning of “use for trade”
Units of measurement, weights and measures lawful for use for trade
Dual marking and conversion charts
Multiples and fractions of units
Weighing or measuring equipment for use for trade
Approval of persons to verify equipment manufactured
Approved patterns of equipment for use for trade
Provisions supplementary to Article 10
General specifications of equipment for use for trade
Regulations relating to weighing or measuring for trade
Offences in connection with stamping of equipment
Other offences in connection with equipment
Part IV — PUBLIC WEIGHING OR MEASURING EQUIPMENT
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Keepers of public equipment to hold certificate
Provision of public equipment by district councils
Offences in connection with public equipment
Part V — REGULATION OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS IN GOODS
Non-compliance with certain requirements of the FIC Regulation
Unlimited fine- Fail to provide accurate net quantity information on food packaging Any Person
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Transactions in particular goods
Offences in transactions in particular goods
Quantity to be stated in writing in certain cases
Short weight, etc.
Pleading of warranty as defence
Additional defences and safeguards for traders
Offences due to default of third person
Special powers of inspector with respect to certain goods
Powers of inspector with respect to certain documents
Check-weighing of certain road vehicles
Selling by quantity, making quantity known, and weighing in presence
Part VI — PACKAGED GOODS
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation of Part VI
Duties of packers and importers of packages
Enforcement
Defences to offences under Article 32
Special provision for certain packages
Functions of the Department under Part VI
Disclosure of information
Power to modify Part VI
Regulations under Part VI
Part VII — MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS
Browse 16 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Function of Department
Inspectors of weights and measures
General powers of inspection and entry
Obstruction of inspectors
Power of Department to provide adjustment service
Employment of inspectors for provision of certain other services
Offences in connection with office of inspector
Prosecution of offences
Penalties
Regulations and orders
Department to report to Assembly
Application to Crown
Supplemental provisions with respect to fees
Other savings
Consequential amendments and repeals
Art. 52 rep. by 1996 NI 2
Schedules
MEASURES AND WEIGHTS LAWFUL FOR USE FOR TRADE
- Use only approved weights and measures for trade Any Person
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT LAWFUL FOR USE FOR TRADE
- Use only approved metric or imperial units for trade Any Person
No person shall use the ounce troy for trade except for the purposes of transactions...
- Use troy ounce only for precious metal transactions Any Person
No person shall use the carat (metric) for trade except for the purposes of transactions...
- Only use the metric carat for trade in precious stones or pearls Any Person
APPROVALS UNDER ARTICLE 9A
- Maintain a quality system and manual for weighing equipment verification Trader
(1) An approved verifier shall maintain in force such systems and procedures (in this Part...
- Maintain a quality system for approved verification of weighing and measuring equipment Any Person
(1) An approved verifier shall prepare and keep up-to-date a quality system manual, that is...
- Prepare and maintain a quality system manual for weighing and measuring equipment verification Trader
An approved verifier shall keep a record of every test carried out by him of...
- Keep a record of every test you carry out on weighing or measuring equipment Any Person
Without prejudice to Article 13, no article shall be used for trade as a cubic...
- Use unapproved receptacle as cubic measure of ballast Any Person
In measuring any ballast against a calibration mark on such a receptacle as aforesaid, the...
- Fail to level off ballast when measuring for trade Any Person
(1) If any of the ballast is being carried for delivery to a buyer in...
Unlimited fine- Fail to provide or update ballast delivery document Any Person
SOLID FUEL
Unlimited fine- Unlawful sale or transport of solid fuel Any Person
(1) If the vehicle is carrying any relevant goods for delivery to a buyer in...
- Fail to provide delivery document with required goods information Any Person
Any document required by paragraph 13 or 14 shall at all times during the journey...
Unlimited fine- Fail to carry or hand over delivery documents Any Person
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), solid fuel— (a) if made up in advance ready for...
- Carry mixed quantities of solid fuel in containers on a road vehicle Any Person
(1) This paragraph applies to any vehicle on or from which any solid fuel available...
- Fail to display required notice on vehicle selling solid fuel Any Person
Any person who, with intent to defraud or deceive, damps any solid fuel shall be...
- Damp solid fuel with intent to defraud Any Person
If in the case of any solid fuel sold otherwise than by means of a...
Unlimited fine- Refuse to weigh solid fuel on buyer's request Any Person
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS OTHER THAN FOODS
Unlimited fine- Adulterate peat or wood fuel with intent to defraud Any Person
Browse 62 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
No person shall use the pint for trade execpt for— (a) the purposes of the...
Where— (a) any person makes an application for an approval, or (b) an approval is...
(1) An approval shall be in writing and, unless previously withdrawn in accordance with any...
(1) If it appears to an inspector that, otherwise than in accordance with Article 13A,...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the Department may by written notice withdraw an approval if...
(1) Where the Department decides, whether in the light of representations or otherwise, that an...
(1) This paragraph applies where, not less than three months before the end of the...
SAND AND OTHER BALLAST
In this Schedule, “ballast” means any of the following materials, that is to say— (a)...
In the case of any document such as is mentioned in paragraph 7, if at...
Subject to paragraph 3, ballast— (a) if made up in advance ready for retail sale...
There shall be exempted from the requirements of paragraph 2— (a) ballast in a quantity...
The provisions of this Part shall have effect with respect to the carriage of ballast...
If all or any of the ballast on the vehicles is being carried in such...
Any document required by paragraph 7 or 8 shall at all times during the journey...
This Schedule applies to goods of any of the following descriptions (in this Schedule referred...
Where a request under paragraph 9 is made in respect of the whole load of...
Where after weighing in pursuance of a request under paragraph 9 the weight of the...
This Part shall have effect with respect to the carriage by a road vehicle on...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), if all or any of the relevant goods on the...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), solid fuel shall be sold only by net weight. (2)...
Solid fuel shall be sold by means of, or offered or exposed for sale in,...
(1) This paragraph applies to any vehicle which is used on highways for carrying solid...
An order under Article 19 may amend or repeal this Part.
COMPOSITE GOODS AND COLLECTIONS OF ARTICLES
(1) This paragraph applies to any goods which, not being pre-packed, and not themselves being...
(1) This paragraph applies to any goods which, not being aerosol products and not themselves...
(1) This paragraph applies to aerosol products containing any goods required by or under any...
(1) This paragraph applies to any collection of two or more items which, not itself...
There shall be exempted from any requirement of paragraph 1, 2 or 3(2)(b) food of...
Para.5 rep. by SR 1995/227
Kilometre
Metre
Decimetre
Centimetre
Millimetre
Square metre
Square decimetre
Square centimetre
Square millimetre
Hectare
Decare
Are
Cubic metre
Cubic decimetre
Cubic centimetre
Hectolitre
Litre
Decilitre
Centilitre
Millilitre
Imperial unit Metric units . . . Hectolitre . . . Litre Pint Decilitre ....
. . .
Ounce troy
Tonne
Metric tonne
Kilogramme
Hectogramme
Gramme
Carat (metric)
Milligramme
Paras. 4, 5 rep. by SR 1995/227
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Northern Ireland local standards
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NI Department must maintain and re-verify local weighing and measuring standards Crown / Minister / Government department
Northern Ireland working standards and testing and stamping equipment
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Department must provide and maintain measurement standards and equipment Crown / Minister / Government department
Units of measurement, weights and measures lawful for use for trade
Unlimited fine- Use of unauthorized weights or units of measurement for trade Any Person
Dual marking and conversion charts
Unlimited fine- Fail to provide required metric-to-imperial conversion info Any Person
Multiples and fractions of units
Unlimited fine- Use of illegal divisions on capacity measures Any Person
Weighing or measuring equipment for use for trade
Unlimited fine- Use unapproved or unstamped weighing and measuring equipment for trade Any Person
Approved patterns of equipment for use for trade
Unlimited fine- Use or sell unapproved or restricted weighing and measuring equipment Any Person
Provisions supplementary to Article 10
Unlimited fine- Supply unapproved or stamped equipment after certificate expiry Any Person
General specifications of equipment for use for trade
Unlimited fine- Use or sell measuring equipment that doesn't meet legal standards Any Person
Regulations relating to weighing or measuring for trade
Unlimited fine- Breach of regulations for weighing and measuring equipment use Any Person
Offences in connection with stamping of equipment
Unlimited fine- Tampering with official seals or using fraudulent weighing equipment Any Person
Other offences in connection with equipment
6 months imprisonment- Use false or fraudulent weighing and measuring equipment Any Person
Keepers of public equipment to hold certificate
Unlimited fine- Operating public weighing equipment without a certificate Any Person
Offences in connection with public equipment
Unlimited fine- Breach of duties regarding public weighing or measuring equipment Any Person
Transactions in particular goods
Unlimited fine- Breach labeling, packaging, or quantity rules for specific goods Any Person
Offences in transactions in particular goods
Unlimited fine- Sell goods in incorrect quantities or with incorrect labeling Any Person
Quantity to be stated in writing in certain cases
- Provide written statement of quantity when selling goods by quantity Any Person
Short weight, etc.
Unlimited fine- Deliver short weight or incorrect quantities to customers Any Person
Pleading of warranty as defence
Unlimited fine- Provide a false warranty or link a warranty to the wrong goods Any Person
Offences due to default of third person
6 months imprisonment- Cause another person to commit an weights and measures offence Any Person
Check-weighing of certain road vehicles
Unlimited fine- Refuse a request to check-weigh a vehicle load Any Person
Selling by quantity, making quantity known, and weighing in presence
Unlimited fine- Failure to clearly measure or state the weight of goods Any Person
Function of Department
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Department must enforce weights and measures laws using statutory powers Crown / Minister / Government department
Inspectors of weights and measures
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- NI Department must appoint and qualify Weights and Measures Inspectors Crown / Minister / Government department
Obstruction of inspectors
Unlimited fine- Obstructing or failing to assist a Trading Standards inspector Any Person
Offences in connection with office of inspector
Unlimited fine- Unlawfully acting as an inspector or verifier of weighing equipment Any Person
Penalties
6 months imprisonment- Breach of weights and measures regulations Any Person
Regulations and orders
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department must consult affected organisations before making orders Crown / Minister / Government department
Department to report to Assembly
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Department must report to the Assembly on the Order's operation Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 32 other sections
sch. 6 para. 1
sch. 6 para. 2
sch. 6 para. 3
Title and commencement
Interpretation
Meaning of “use for trade”
Provision of public equipment by district councils
Additional defences and safeguards for traders
Special powers of inspector with respect to certain goods
Powers of inspector with respect to certain documents
Interpretation of Part VI
Duties of packers and importers of packages
Enforcement
Defences to offences under Article 32
Special provision for certain packages
Functions of the Department under Part VI
Disclosure of information
Power to modify Part VI
Regulations under Part VI
General powers of inspection and entry
Power of Department to provide adjustment service
Employment of inspectors for provision of certain other services
Prosecution of offences
Application to Crown
Supplemental provisions with respect to fees
Other savings
Consequential amendments and repeals
Approval of persons to verify equipment manufactured etc. by them
Non-compliance with certain requirements of the FIC Regulation
This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title
Pre-test stamping by certain manufacturers
Testing by official EEA testers
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Measuring instruments regulations and non-automatic weighing instruments regulations (opens in a new tab) from OPSS Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Trading Standards (Local Authority)
Enforces consumer protection legislation including food labelling, weights and measures, product safety, and fair trading. Part of local authority structure. Investigates food …
Connected legislation
2 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.