UK Act of Parliament 1981 c. 231 Northern Ireland

Weights and Measures (NI) Order 1981

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Enforced by
Trading Standards
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Imprisonment 26 of 52 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 9 carry different penalties and 17 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person41 Trader3 Manufacturer1

Plus 7 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Trader — also bound by 825 other Acts
Companies Act 2006 243 duties
Companies Act 1985 85 duties
Manufacturer — also bound by 502 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

INTRODUCTORY

0 of 2 sections shown
2 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.art001 Title and commencement
s.art002 Interpretation
Part 2

STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT

0 of 2 sections shown
2 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.art003 Northern Ireland local standards
s.art004 Northern Ireland working standards and testing and stamping equipment
Part 7

MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS

0 of 1 section shown
1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.paragraph/p2 Art. 52 rep. by 1996 NI 2
Schedules

Schedules

20 of 81 shown
s.sch001 MEASURES AND WEIGHTS LAWFUL FOR USE FOR TRADE (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Use only approved weights and measures for tradeAny Person
s.sch002 UNITS OF MEASUREMENT LAWFUL FOR USE FOR TRADE (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Use only approved metric or imperial units for tradeAny Person
s.sch002 No person shall use the ounce troy for trade except for the purposes of transactions... Regulated
  • Use troy ounce only for precious metal transactionsAny Person
s.sch002 No person shall use the carat (metric) for trade except for the purposes of transactions... Regulated
  • Only use the metric carat for trade in precious stones or pearlsAny Person
s.sch002a APPROVALS UNDER ARTICLE 9A Regulated
  • Maintain a quality system and manual for weighing equipment verificationTrader
s.sch002a (1) An approved verifier shall maintain in force such systems and procedures (in this Part... Regulated
  • Maintain a quality system for approved verification of weighing and measuring equipmentAny Person
s.sch002a (1) An approved verifier shall prepare and keep up-to-date a quality system manual, that is... Regulated
  • Prepare and maintain a quality system manual for weighing and measuring equipment verificationTrader
s.sch002a An approved verifier shall keep a record of every test carried out by him of... Regulated
  • Keep a record of every test you carry out on weighing or measuring equipmentAny Person
s.sch004 Subject to paragraph 3, ballast— (a) if made up in advance ready for retail sale... Regulated
  • Sell ballast only by volume or net weightTrader
s.sch004 Without prejudice to Article 13, no article shall be used for trade as a cubic... Regulated
  • Use unapproved receptacle as cubic measure of ballastAny Person
s.sch004 In measuring any ballast against a calibration mark on such a receptacle as aforesaid, the... Regulated
  • Fail to level off ballast when measuring for tradeAny Person
s.sch004 (1) If any of the ballast is being carried for delivery to a buyer in... Prosecution
  • Fail to provide or update ballast delivery documentAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch005 SOLID FUEL (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Unlawful sale or transport of solid fuelAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch005 (1) If the vehicle is carrying any relevant goods for delivery to a buyer in... Regulated
  • Fail to provide delivery document with required goods informationAny Person
s.sch005 Any document required by paragraph 13 or 14 shall at all times during the journey... Prosecution
  • Fail to carry or hand over delivery documentsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch005 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), solid fuel— (a) if made up in advance ready for... Regulated
  • Carry mixed quantities of solid fuel in containers on a road vehicleAny Person
s.sch005 (1) This paragraph applies to any vehicle on or from which any solid fuel available... Regulated
  • Fail to display required notice on vehicle selling solid fuelAny Person
s.sch005 Any person who, with intent to defraud or deceive, damps any solid fuel shall be... Regulated
  • Damp solid fuel with intent to defraudAny Person
s.sch005 If in the case of any solid fuel sold otherwise than by means of a... Prosecution
  • Refuse to weigh solid fuel on buyer's requestAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch006 MISCELLANEOUS GOODS OTHER THAN FOODS (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Adulterate peat or wood fuel with intent to defraudAny Person

Unlimited fine

61 other schedules
s.sch002 No person shall use the pint for trade execpt for— (a) the purposes of the...
s.sch002a Where— (a) any person makes an application for an approval, or (b) an approval is...
s.sch002a (1) An approval shall be in writing and, unless previously withdrawn in accordance with any...
s.sch002a (1) If it appears to an inspector that, otherwise than in accordance with Article 13A,...
s.sch002a (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the Department may by written notice withdraw an approval if...
s.sch002a (1) Where the Department decides, whether in the light of representations or otherwise, that an...
s.sch002a (1) This paragraph applies where, not less than three months before the end of the...
s.sch004 SAND AND OTHER BALLAST (opens in a new tab)
s.sch004 In this Schedule, “ballast” means any of the following materials, that is to say— (a)...
s.sch004 In the case of any document such as is mentioned in paragraph 7, if at...
s.sch004 There shall be exempted from the requirements of paragraph 2— (a) ballast in a quantity...
s.sch004 The provisions of this Part shall have effect with respect to the carriage of ballast...
s.sch004 If all or any of the ballast on the vehicles is being carried in such...
s.sch004 Any document required by paragraph 7 or 8 shall at all times during the journey...
s.sch005 This Schedule applies to goods of any of the following descriptions (in this Schedule referred...
s.sch005 Where a request under paragraph 9 is made in respect of the whole load of...
s.sch005 Where after weighing in pursuance of a request under paragraph 9 the weight of the...
s.sch005 This Part shall have effect with respect to the carriage by a road vehicle on...
s.sch005 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), if all or any of the relevant goods on the...
s.sch005 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), solid fuel shall be sold only by net weight. (2)...
s.sch005 Solid fuel shall be sold by means of, or offered or exposed for sale in,...
s.sch005 (1) This paragraph applies to any vehicle which is used on highways for carrying solid...
s.sch005 An order under Article 19 may amend or repeal this Part.
s.sch007 COMPOSITE GOODS AND COLLECTIONS OF ARTICLES (opens in a new tab)
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies to any goods which, not being pre-packed, and not themselves being...
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies to any goods which, not being aerosol products and not themselves...
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies to aerosol products containing any goods required by or under any...
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies to any collection of two or more items which, not itself...
s.sch007 There shall be exempted from any requirement of paragraph 1, 2 or 3(2)(b) food of...
s.schedule/1/part/vi/paragraph/wrapper1n1 Para.5 rep. by SR 1995/227
s.schedule/2/part/i/chapter//paragraph/wrapper2n1 Kilometre
s.schedule/2/part/i/chapter//paragraph/wrapper3n1 Metre
s.schedule/2/part/i/chapter//paragraph/wrapper4n1 Decimetre
s.schedule/2/part/i/chapter//paragraph/wrapper5n1 Centimetre
s.schedule/2/part/i/chapter//paragraph/wrapper6n1 Millimetre
s.schedule/2/part/ii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper10n1 Square metre
s.schedule/2/part/ii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper11n1 Square decimetre
s.schedule/2/part/ii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper12n1 Square centimetre
s.schedule/2/part/ii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper13n1 Square millimetre
s.schedule/2/part/ii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper7n1 Hectare
s.schedule/2/part/ii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper8n1 Decare
s.schedule/2/part/ii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper9n1 Are
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper14n1 Cubic metre
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper15n1 Cubic decimetre
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper16n1 Cubic centimetre
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper17n1 Hectolitre
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper18n1 Litre
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper19n1 Decilitre
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper20n1 Centilitre
s.schedule/2/part/iii/chapter//paragraph/wrapper21n1 Millilitre
s.schedule/2/part/iv/paragraph/wrapper22n1 Imperial unit Metric units . . . Hectolitre . . . Litre Pint Decilitre ....
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/1/paragraph/wrapper23n1 . . .
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/1/paragraph/wrapper24n1 Ounce troy
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/2/paragraph/wrapper25n1 Tonne
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/2/paragraph/wrapper26n1 Metric tonne
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/2/paragraph/wrapper27n1 Kilogramme
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/2/paragraph/wrapper28n1 Hectogramme
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/2/paragraph/wrapper29n1 Gramme
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/2/paragraph/wrapper30n1 Carat (metric)
s.schedule/2/part/v/chapter/2/paragraph/wrapper31n1 Milligramme
s.schedule/2/part/vi/paragraph/wrapper32n1 Paras. 4, 5 rep. by SR 1995/227
s.003 Northern Ireland local standards (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • NI Department must maintain and re-verify local weighing and measuring standardsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.004 Northern Ireland working standards and testing and stamping equipment (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Department must provide and maintain measurement standards and equipmentCrown / Minister / Government department
s.006 Units of measurement, weights and measures lawful for use for trade Prosecution
  • Use of unauthorized weights or units of measurement for tradeAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.007 Dual marking and conversion charts Prosecution
  • Fail to provide required metric-to-imperial conversion infoAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.008 Multiples and fractions of units Prosecution
  • Use of illegal divisions on capacity measuresAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.009 Weighing or measuring equipment for use for trade Prosecution
  • Use unapproved or unstamped weighing and measuring equipment for tradeAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.010 Approved patterns of equipment for use for trade Prosecution
  • Use or sell unapproved or restricted weighing and measuring equipmentAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.011 Provisions supplementary to Article 10 Prosecution
  • Supply unapproved or stamped equipment after certificate expiryAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.012 General specifications of equipment for use for trade Prosecution
  • Use or sell measuring equipment that doesn't meet legal standardsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.013 Regulations relating to weighing or measuring for trade Prosecution
  • Breach of regulations for weighing and measuring equipment useAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.014 Offences in connection with stamping of equipment Prosecution
  • Tampering with official seals or using fraudulent weighing equipmentAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.015 Other offences in connection with equipment Imprisonment
  • Use false or fraudulent weighing and measuring equipmentAny Person
s.016 Keepers of public equipment to hold certificate Prosecution
  • Operating public weighing equipment without a certificateAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.018 Offences in connection with public equipment Prosecution
  • Breach of duties regarding public weighing or measuring equipmentAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.019 Transactions in particular goods Prosecution
  • Breach labeling, packaging, or quantity rules for specific goodsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.020 Offences in transactions in particular goods Prosecution
  • Sell goods in incorrect quantities or with incorrect labelingAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.021 Quantity to be stated in writing in certain cases Regulated
  • Provide written statement of quantity when selling goods by quantityAny Person
s.022 Short weight, etc. Prosecution
  • Deliver short weight or incorrect quantities to customersAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.023 Pleading of warranty as defence Prosecution
  • Provide a false warranty or link a warranty to the wrong goodsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.025 Offences due to default of third person Imprisonment
  • Cause another person to commit an weights and measures offenceAny Person
s.028 Check-weighing of certain road vehicles Prosecution
  • Refuse a request to check-weigh a vehicle loadAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.029 Selling by quantity, making quantity known, and weighing in presence Prosecution
  • Failure to clearly measure or state the weight of goodsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.039 Function of Department Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Department must enforce weights and measures laws using statutory powersCrown / Minister / Government department
s.040 Inspectors of weights and measures Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • NI Department must appoint and qualify Weights and Measures InspectorsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.042 Obstruction of inspectors Prosecution
  • Obstructing or failing to assist a Trading Standards inspectorAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.045 Offences in connection with office of inspector Prosecution
  • Unlawfully acting as an inspector or verifier of weighing equipmentAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.047 Penalties Imprisonment
  • Breach of weights and measures regulationsAny Person
s.048 Regulations and orders Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • The Department must consult affected organisations before making ordersCrown / Minister / Government department
s.049 Department to report to Assembly Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • The Department must report to the Assembly on the Order's operationCrown / Minister / Government department
s.non-compliance with certain requirements of the fi Non-compliance with certain requirements of the FIC Regulation Prosecution
  • Fail to provide accurate net quantity information on food packagingAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.pre-test stamping by certain manufacturers Pre-test stamping by certain manufacturers Prosecution
  • Illegal stamping of equipment by a manufacturerManufacturer

Unlimited fine

s.testing by official eea testers Testing by official EEA testers Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Trading Standards must accept valid EEA test reports for equipmentStatutory regulator
29 other provisions
sch. 6 para. 1 sch. 6 para. 1
sch. 6 para. 2 sch. 6 para. 2
sch. 6 para. 3 sch. 6 para. 3
s.001 Title and commencement (opens in a new tab)
s.002 Interpretation (opens in a new tab)
s.005 Meaning of “use for trade”
s.017 Provision of public equipment by district councils
s.024 Additional defences and safeguards for traders
s.026 Special powers of inspector with respect to certain goods
s.027 Powers of inspector with respect to certain documents
s.030 Interpretation of Part VI
s.031 Duties of packers and importers of packages
s.032 Enforcement
s.033 Defences to offences under Article 32
s.034 Special provision for certain packages
s.035 Functions of the Department under Part VI
s.036 Disclosure of information
s.037 Power to modify Part VI
s.038 Regulations under Part VI
s.041 General powers of inspection and entry
s.043 Power of Department to provide adjustment service
s.044 Employment of inspectors for provision of certain other services
s.046 Prosecution of offences
s.050 Application to Crown
s.051 Supplemental provisions with respect to fees
s.053 Other savings
s.054 Consequential amendments and repeals
s.approval of persons to verify equipment manufactur Approval of persons to verify equipment manufactured etc. by them
s.para.188 This div-1 has a number but no title; creating a P1group with an empty Title

Connected legislation

Instruments made under this Act. They carry the detail the Act delegates.

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