IT became very visible this past week the scale of citizens in this country who are suffering and need help just to put food on their table.
The private sector is stepping up to help, establishing food banks and distributing food hampers.
Of the people who are able to buy their own food, many are astutely watching every dollar to make it stretch as much as they can.
I’ve heard stories of many who pay for their vegetables and fruit and while walking away wonder if the weight was correct and if the vendor’s scale was working correctly.
In case you didn’t already know, I’d like to arm you with a titbit of information on market scales, which may help you choose where to buy your market goods.
Without getting into lots of boring nitty gritty, on May 1, 2015 the Metrology Act No. 18 of 2004 was brought into effect and became law. This act is supposed to help with the standardisation of the national measurement system, provide control of measurements and measurement devices, improve public safety, protect the environment and ensure fair trade.
The Metrology Act created a Legal Metrology Inspectorate with many responsibilities and powers, one of which is the power to inspect measuring devices used in trade. One of these measurement devices for control is the market scale. Once the device is found to be in compliance with the law, a stamp is affixed which must remain on the device.
Section 9 of this Act makes makes it an offence for a person who, in connection with trade, uses or has in his possession for use any market scale which does not bear such a stamp. The penalty for not having a market scale inspected, verified for compliance with the laws and officially stamped is found in section 17:
If it’s a person charged with the offence, if found guilty, faces a fine on summary conviction of $2,000 and $4,000 for a subsequent conviction; and
If it’s a company charged with the offence, to a fine of $100,000. If a Director, Manager, Secretary or other similar officer is found to have been guilty of neglect, consent or connivance in committing this offence, they can face a fine of $50,000.
From my understanding of these laws, even the simple roadside market vendors must have their scales checked and a stamp affixed by the Legal Metrology Inspectorate once in compliance, not just the market scales found in supermarket aisles.
Buying from a vendor who possesses a lawfully stamped scale ought to foster trust that you are getting the exact weight that you pay for. So, it may be a good idea to check for this stamp of compliance from the Inspectorate, before you buy your market goods. Use your power of choice to select and buy from a vendor with a verified market scale over one that does not have the stamp. Hope this helps!
Civil Litigation Attorney at Law & Certified Mediator.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for general informative purposes only. It does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. For legal advice on your specific situation, please contact an Attorney-at-Law of your choosing directly. Liability for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever allegedly incurred a consequence of using content in this article is thus hereby excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Check For an Inspection Stamp on Market Scales
IT became very visible this past week the scale of citizens in this country who are suffering and need help just to put food on their table.
The private sector is stepping up to help, establishing food banks and distributing food hampers.
Of the people who are able to buy their own food, many are astutely watching every dollar to make it stretch as much as they can.
I’ve heard stories of many who pay for their vegetables and fruit and while walking away wonder if the weight was correct and if the vendor’s scale was working correctly.
In case you didn’t already know, I’d like to arm you with a titbit of information on market scales, which may help you choose where to buy your market goods.
Without getting into lots of boring nitty gritty, on May 1, 2015 the Metrology Act No. 18 of 2004 was brought into effect and became law. This act is supposed to help with the standardisation of the national measurement system, provide control of measurements and measurement devices, improve public safety, protect the environment and ensure fair trade.
The Metrology Act created a Legal Metrology Inspectorate with many responsibilities and powers, one of which is the power to inspect measuring devices used in trade. One of these measurement devices for control is the market scale. Once the device is found to be in compliance with the law, a stamp is affixed which must remain on the device.
Section 9 of this Act makes makes it an offence for a person who, in connection with trade, uses or has in his possession for use any market scale which does not bear such a stamp. The penalty for not having a market scale inspected, verified for compliance with the laws and officially stamped is found in section 17:
From my understanding of these laws, even the simple roadside market vendors must have their scales checked and a stamp affixed by the Legal Metrology Inspectorate once in compliance, not just the market scales found in supermarket aisles.
Buying from a vendor who possesses a lawfully stamped scale ought to foster trust that you are getting the exact weight that you pay for. So, it may be a good idea to check for this stamp of compliance from the Inspectorate, before you buy your market goods. Use your power of choice to select and buy from a vendor with a verified market scale over one that does not have the stamp. Hope this helps!
Be safe Trinidad and Tobago!
Copyright © 2021 Neela Ramsundar, LL.B (HONS), L.E.C
Civil Litigation Attorney at Law & Certified Mediator.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for general informative purposes only. It does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. For legal advice on your specific situation, please contact an Attorney-at-Law of your choosing directly. Liability for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever allegedly incurred a consequence of using content in this article is thus hereby excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.