Start a retail business - compliance essentials
- 1 step
UK Statutory Instrument
2006
United Kingdom
Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
14 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
5 of 14 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 3 carry different penalties and 6 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 6
- Manufacturer 3
- Trader 3
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Run a retail business
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Mentioned in related content
1 guidesOther 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 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
Manufacturers also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 2011 27 duties
- Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 2017 25 duties
- Medical Devices Regulations 2002 2002 23 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 22 duties
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 2016 21 duties
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 952 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 39 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 2013 39 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 75 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 63 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 46 duties
- CCBSA 2014 2014 22 duties
- CAICEA 2004 2004 18 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.
Schedules
Browse 1 other Schedule — structural / supplementary
Tolerable negative error
Duty to comply with the three packers' rules
- Ensure packaged goods meet the 'three packers' rules' Manufacturer
Duty of packers and importers to mark packages
- Mark packages with quantity and contact details Manufacturer
Duty of packers and importers to mark outer containers
Unlimited fine- Mark outer containers with quantity, item count, and contact details Manufacturer
Liability for labelling packages and outer containers
Unlimited fine- Comply with packaging duties if you apply quantity markings Any Person
Specific requirements as to quantity marking
- Label packaged goods with accurate weight or volume measurements Trader
Packers' and importers' duties as to equipment, checks and documentation
- Use correct equipment and keep records for packaged goods Trader
Enforcement by local weights and measures authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must enforce weights and measures regulations Local authority
Instructions by inspectors
- Comply with inspector’s written instructions about your packages Trader
Offences relating to the making up and marking of packages and outer containers, and record keeping
3 months imprisonment- Fail to comply with packaging or record‑keeping duties Any Person
Offences relating to the sale of packages
Unlimited fine- Sell packaged goods with excessive error or from failed batch Any Person
Offences relating to E-marks
Unlimited fine- Use E‑mark on packaging without authorisation Any Person
Disclosure of information
2 years imprisonment- Unlawfully disclose trade secrets or packer identities Any Person
Corporate offence provisions
- Director liable for corporation's packaging offence Director or Officer
Penalties for offences
Unlimited fine- Breach of packaging regs 12(6), 13(1), 14(1), 14(2) or 15 Any Person
Browse 6 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation, commencement, revocation and extent
Interpretation
Notices to local weights and measures authorities
Defences
Trade Descriptions Act
Transitional provisions
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 …
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.