Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Regulations relating to weighing or measuring for trade N.I.

13.—(1) The Department may make regulations with respect to—

(a) the materials and principles of construction of weighing or measuring equipment for use for trade;

(b) the inspection, testing, passing as fit for use for trade and stamping of such equipment, including—

(i) the prohibition of the stamping of such equipment in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations;

(ii) the circumstances in which an inspector may remove or detain any such equipment for inspection or testing;

(iii) the marking of any such equipment found unfit for use for trade;

(c) the circumstances in which, conditions under which and manner in which stamps may be destroyed, obliterated or defaced;

(d) where any stamp on weighing or measuring equipment is lawfully destroyed, obliterated or defaced, the circumstances in which, and conditions subject to which, the equipment may be used for trade without contravening Article 9(2);

(e) the purposes for which particular types of weighing or measuring equipment may be used for trade;

(f) the manner of erection or use of weighing or measuring equipment used for trade;

(g) the abbreviations of or symbols for units of measurement which may be used for trade;

(h) the manner in which the tare weight of road vehicles, or of road vehicles of any particular class or description, is to be determined;

and, subject to paragraph (3), if any person contravenes any regulation made by virtue of sub-paragraph ( e), ( f), ( g) or ( h), he shall be guilty of an offence, and any weighing or measuring equipment in respect of which the contravention was committed shall be liable to be forfeited.

(2) Regulations under paragraph (1) with respect to the testing of equipment may provide—

(a) that where a group of items of equipment of the same kind is submitted for testing and prescribed conditions are satisfied with respect to the group, the testing may be confined to a number of items determined by or under the regulations and selected in the prescribed manner; and

(b) that if items so selected satisfy the test other items in the group shall be treated as having satisfied it.

(3) Where in the special circumstances of any particular case it appears to be impracticable or unnecessary that any requirement of any regulations made under this Article should be complied with, the Department may, by an authorisation in writing, dispense with the observance of that requirement.

(4) Where an authorisation under paragraph (3) is granted subject to conditions, any person who knowingly contravenes any condition imposed by the authorisation with respect to any equipment shall be guilty of an offence and the equipment shall be liable to be forfeited.