Metrology

Every day the Trading Standards Metrology team impact on consumers lives without them realising it. For example, on a Saturday you might do your weekly shop at the supermarket followed by filling up the car with petrol, then go out for a few drinks in the evening with friends .

In each of these scenarios Trading Standards have checked that these businesses are keeping within the law, by checking their weighing and measuring equipment.

What is Metrology?

Metrology is the traditional side of Trading Standards work. We inspect weighing and measuring equipment in all retail, wholesale and manufacturing premises in Lancashire where goods are sold by weight or measure. The equipment we inspect ranges from small pharmacist's weighing scales to weighbridges, petrol pumps and spirit measures or 'optics' in pubs and restaurants. All this equipment has to be accurate within strict tolerances, to ensure that the purchaser gets what they pay for.

All goods sold by weight or measure in the UK must be sold in metric units (grams and kilograms, centimetres and metres), however imperial units (pounds and ounces, feet and inches) can still be used as supplementary indications as long as the metric unit is indicated more prominently. Milk and Beer is an exception to this rule, and can still be sold in ½, 1/3 and Pint measures.

Weighing and Measuring equipment in use for trade is a lot more accurate than the equipment we use in our homes, and this can sometimes give the impression that Consumers are being given short weight or measure goods, however if you feel you have a justified complaint in relation to this, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506, who will forward it to us so that we can take the appropriate action.

LINKS
Calibration and Weighbridge test unit hire section -

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/lancashire/link5.htm

National Weights and Measures Laboratory -

www.nwml.gov.uk

Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, 58-60 Guildhall Street, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3NU.
Telephone: 0845 404 0506 or (01772) 533573   Fax: (01772) 533591   Electronic Mail: feedback@lancashire.gov.uk