Trade Approved Scales

A: In simple terms trade approved scales are machines that are suitable to be used for point of sale purposes, where products are being sold by weight to a consumer, example of this would be your local greengrocer using a scale to weigh your purchases and charge you per kilogram on that scale, these are trade approved retail or shop scales. Trade approved scales cover a large area and different markets and also includes average weight.

A: In the UK it is illegal to sell items or produce by weight without using Trade approved or legal scales, as a trader selling by weight YOU are responsible to ensure that the scales you use are suitable and are correctly 'stamped' for use within the UK.

This legal requirement includes products requiring an average weight on the product label and includes bagged items and bottled items. A few examples of businesses that require a trade approved scale include:

• Cosmetics - Used for ensuring creams, lotions and gels meet the weight specified on the label.
• Laundries - A laundry requires trade approved checkweighing scales to ensure that the correct amount is charged based on weight when customers collect their clothes and towels.
• Food caterers - Caterers that sell packaged products commercially such as chocolates and confectionary by weight will require scales that have the correct trade approvals.

A: Trade approved products are required for any business selling products by weight, some examples of products that require trade approvals include:

• Food.
• Alcohol.
• Precious metals and stones (including gold).
• Fertiliser and animal feed.
• Pre-packaged products that specify weight.
• Mechanical and construction parts.

A: 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 Austrailian government.

NRCS:

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