The Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations 1994

Made: 13th July 1994

Laid before Parliament: 19th July 1994

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1

The Secretary of State, in exercise of powers conferred by sections 4(5) and (6), 5(9), 11(1) and (4), 15(1) and 94(1) of the Weights and Measures Act 1985[^f00001] and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf hereby makes the following Regulations:—

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations 1994 and shall come into force immediately after the coming into force of the Units of Measurement Regulations 1994[^f00002].

2

• (1) On the coming into force of these Regulations, the Regulations specified in Part I of the Schedule to these Regulations shall be amended in the manner specified in that Part.

• (2) On 1st October 1995, the Regulations specified in Part II of the Schedule to these Regulations, as amended by paragraph (1) above, shall be amended in the manner specified in that Part.

• (3) On 1st January 2000, the Regulations specified in Part III of the Schedule to these Regulations, as amended by paragraphs (1) and (2) above, shall be amended in the manner specified in that Part.

SCHEDULE — AMENDMENT OF REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACTS 1963 AND 1985

PART I — AMENDMENTS TO BE MADE ON THE COMING INTO FORCE OF THESE REGULATIONS

PART II — AMENDMENTS TO BE MADE ON 1ST OCTOBER 1995

PART III — AMENDMENTS TO BE MADE ON 1ST JANUARY 2000

Signed

Strathclyde — Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms, — Department of Trade and Industry — 13th July 1994

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement the amendments made by Council Directive 89/617/EEC (OJ No. L357, 7.12.89, p.28) to Council Directive 80/181/EEC (OJ No. L39, 15.2.80, p.40) which relates to the use of units of measurement for economic, public health, public safety or administrative purposes (“the specified circumstances”).

They amend a number of Regulations made under the Weights and Measures Act 1963 or the Weights and Measures Act 1985 (“the Act”) on weighing and measuring equipment in use for trade and on local and working standards and testing equipment used by inspectors of weights and measures.

In particular the Regulations make amendments which enable supplementary indications of quantity to be given on weighing or measuring equipment which uses units in the metric system for primary indications (Part I of the Schedule). Amendments also provide for the removal of references to imperial units in relation to their use on weighing or measuring equipment and to local and working standard weights and linear and capacity measures (Parts II and III of the Schedule).

Use of weighing equipment (including weights) for which Schedule 11 paragraphs 12 and 14 of the Act make specific provision is preserved in accordance with those provisions notwithstanding the fact that this equipment makes use of imperial units that have not been authorised for some time (Part III of the Schedule).

The amendments are timed to come into operation on different dates after which certain units may no longer be used for all or for certain purposes. Thus references to the pound and the ounce are deleted from Regulations on 1st January 2000, the date on which they cease to benefit from the derogation for their use in connection with goods sold loose from bulk.

A Compliance Cost Assessment of the impact that these Regulations will have on business will be available in the libraries of the Houses of Parliament once the Regulations, having been made, are laid before Parliament and from the Consumer Affairs Division of the Department of Trade and Industry, Room 407, 10-18 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0NN.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1985 c. 72. Section 94(1) contains a definition of “prescribed”.

[^f00002]: S.I. 1994/

[^f00003]: S.I. 1983/914.

[^f00004]: S.I. 1983/1390, amended by S.I. 1986/1210.

[^f00005]: S.I. 1983/1656, amended by S.I. 1984/273.

[^f00006]: S.I. 1986/1320.

[^f00007]: S.I. 1986/1682, amended by S.I. 1986/2109.

[^f00008]: S.I. 1988/120, amended by S.I. 1993/2060.

[^f00009]: S.I. 1988/128.

[^f00010]: S.I. 1988/876 amended by S.I. 1988/2120, S.I. 1991/2019 and S.I. 1992/3037.

[^f00011]: S.I. 1986/1684.

[^f00012]: S.I. 1990/2626.

[^f00013]: S.I. 1986/1685, amended by S.I. 1991/1775.