Trade Approved Scales

What is a trade approved scale?

A trade approved scale is a weighing scale that can legally used to weigh something to determine its price. Trade approved scales undergo substantial testing to ensure they meet strict requirements. This helps to protect both the seller and the buyer, with weight readings and therefore calculated price being as accurate as possible.

What should a trade approved scale be used for?

For any application where a weighing scale is being used to determine the price of an item being bought or sold, it is a legal requirement in many countries, such as the UK as well as the EU, for the scale to be trade approved. This includes locations such as farm shops, breweries selling their product by weight in kegs, and jewellers selling items base on weight.

Any business found to be using non approved scales for such applications risk heavy fines, and in the worst cases, imprisonment.

Buy trade approved scales from Inscale Scales

Our range of trade approved scales offer users exceptional accuracy with trade certification for selling items which are priced on weight. These scales are suitable for packaging and shipping, customer facing restaurants, farm shops, markets stalls and more.  

Our trade approved scales blend high accuracy and reliable weighing results with robust, durable designs that are built to last. All models come with features that can make everyday weighing processes faster and easier, such as price computing capabilities, counting and checkweighing functions.

For any help choosing your trade certified scale, or if you’re still not sure of whether or not you need one for your business, please Get In Touch.

Trade Approved Scales Help

The M symbol has changed

The M-mark and sticker that identifies scales as being verified as 'use for trade' has been changed from green to black. Some older stickers may also show a black M on a green background.

I work in a warehouse. Which trade approved scales would you recommend?

There are many trade approved scales on the market; which one best suits your needs will depend on how you plan to use the scale, the weight capacity required and the size of the product.

Floor scales are most useful when dealing with large crates or heavy boxes and can weigh products without too much lifting. Adam floor scales such as the approved GFK can perform a greater variety of weighing tasks, including parts counting, accumulation, percentage weighing and checkweighing.

Retail scales such as Adam's Swift SWZ are suitable for selling by weight in farm shops, small shops, market stalls and more. Checkweighing scales operate best within warehouse applications and can ensure that the same products retain the same standard weight, flagging up potential issues when a product deviates away from the typical weight.

Is there a particular trade approved food weighing scale I should use?

Many of our trade approved scales can be used to weigh food products. Retail scales or shop scales tend to be favoured as food weighing scales in retail environments for calculating the price of items in grams or kilos.

Who would need a trade approved food scale?

Any business that intends on selling products by weight will require a scale that is legal for trade, however, the best trade approved scale for your business will depend on the the products you wish to sell. Trade approved scales are particularly popular in markets stalls, small retailers and home businesses.

Farmers' markets may use a trade certified scale for selling fruit and vegetables, whilst a butcher's shop will require a certified butchers scale in order to attribute a price per kilo, pound or gram of meat. Similarly, sweet shops that allow you to fill bags of pic'n'mix with sweets using a scoop will require scales that are legal for trade.

Likewise, home catering businesses such as confectionary or chocolate makers will need a legal for trade scale throughout the production and distribution process. The weight of chocolates will need to match the weight specified on the packaging in order to be sold legally on the basis of weight.

What do the trade approved acronyms stand for?

The trade approved acronyms usually represent the government or legislative body who set the standards for weighing instruments. Here is a list to some of the most common approval bodies you will see:

CE:

The scale or balance conforms to European standards.

OIML:

International Organisation of Legal Metrology is an inter-governmental organisation based in France. Commonly associated with calibration testing and weights.

NTEP:

The National Type Evaluation Program is used to test and certify equipment and weighing instruments before they are sold in the United States for trade use.

M Class Approvals:

The Black M sticker indicates that a scale or balance meets the legislative criteria required for selling products by weight. (Note: Previously a Green M sticker rather than the new Black M).

Class II or III:

Commonly used for medical devices. Class II and III approvals refer to the accuracy and division of a balance or scale which can indicate what weighing applications your scale or balance be used for. (e.g Class III for scales with a readability of 0.1g to 2g+ or Class II for scales with readabilities of 0.1g to 1mg+)

NMI:

The National Measurement Institute sets the measurement standards of the Austrailan government.

NRCS:

The National Regulator of Compulsory Specifications is a an off-shoot agency of the South African Government Department of Trade and Industry.

Related Blogs:

A Guide to Trade Approvals: What is a Trade Approved Scale?

Starting a New Food Business: How Weighing Scales Can Help