Weights and measures

Trading Standards check the accuracy of weighing and measuring equipment used by traders, ranging from industrial weighbridges and shop scales to petrol pumps and spirit and beer measures in pubs.

This ensures that consumers and businesses can rely on the quantity of the goods they are buying which increases consumer confidence in value for money they are receiving.

Trading Standards also check pre-packed goods at the factory to make sure that they are not short weight or measure and carry out random checks at retailers.

They also carry out test purchasing surveys to ensure that loose goods sold by weight or measure are correctly sold.

Recent changes to the law now require that weighing equipment used for medical purposes must be accurate and Trading Standards also test hospital equipment.