Weights & measures
It has been estimated that, in the UK, a billion pounds worth of
goods are traded at retail level each year. However, do you
ever question whether or not you can have confidence in your
purchase?
All goods, whether pre-packed or not, should be of the correct
weight or measure stated on the packaging. Part of the
council's job is to ensure that the public receive the correct
amount of any product they buy.
Almost all goods today are sold with some reference to either
its weight or measure, whether by the pint, litre, gram or
metre. This includes everyday items such as bread, petrol,
beer, clothing material, sand or anything else you can think
of.
Trading Standards enforce a complex set of regulations designed
to ensure that the public and businesses can have confidence in
their purchases and ensures fair competition.
We do this by:
- verifying that weighing and measuring equipment is initially
accurate
- routinely visiting businesses and checking weighing and
measuring equipment
- checking products already in the shops
- reacting to complaints of short measure
If you think you have received a short measure from a business
in Tower Hamlets, and would like further information or an
information pack, please contact us.
The law relating to weights and measures specifies that:
- security of uniform system of units of weights and measures
should be established
- controls should be placed over weighing and measuring equipment
in use for trade
- the public should be protected against short quantity in the
sale of goods
The system of weights and measures has
developed through:
- legal frameworks
- adequate and even handed enforcement
- technological advances in equipment
There are a vast range of laws governing weights and measures;
as technology, numbers and variety of goods have increased so has
legislation. There is also a system of European Community approval
removing technical barriers to trade.
Inspectors of Weights and Measures (or Trading Standards
Officers as they are more commonly known) visit trade premises and
carry out inspections and verification of weighing and measuring
equipment.
Examples include counter weighing machines, weighbridges,
weights, petrol pumps, spirit measuring instruments, wine and beer
glasses, metre measures to name some common examples.
Pre-packed goods, breads, textiles and a huge amount of other items
and goods are tested to ensure correct weight or measure.
Further information and advice from trading standards on
weights and measures
Contact
Tower Hamlets Trading Standards Service
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY
Opening hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to
Friday
Tel: 020 7364 5008
Fax: 020 7364 6901
Email: tradingstandards@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Website: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/towerhamlets
Other useful information can be obtained from the following
websites: