The Weights and Measures Regulations 1963

Obliteration of stamps

7.  Stamps shall be obliterated by an inspector, in accordance with the requirements of these Regulations, by means of punches or pincers of a six-pointed star design as shown in the following illustration:—

8.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) of this regulation, an inspector shall obliterate the stamp on any weighing or measuring equipment which falls outside the prescribed limits of error or fails to comply with the appropriate requirements of these Regulations.

(2) An inspector shall obliterate the stamp on—

(a) any weight or measure if, owing to its being broken, much indented or otherwise damaged, it does not, in the opinion of the inspector, admit of proper adjustment;

(b) any weight or measure which, since it was last stamped, has, in the opinion of the inspector, had its accuracy affected by reason of any alteration, addition adjustment or repair;

(c) any equal-armed weighing instrument which, since it was last stamped, has been altered, adjusted or repaired;

(d) any other weighing instrument which, since it was last stamped, has been so altered, adjusted or repaired that, in the opinion of the inspector, it has become necessary to ascertain that the indications of the instrument remain correct throughout its range.

(3) In the case of any weighing or measuring equipment found upon testing not to comply with the requirements of these Regulations by reason only that it falls outside the prescribed limits of error, an inspector may serve upon the person for the time being in possession of that equipment a notice requiring him to have the equipment corrected within a specified period not exceeding 28 days; and, without prejudice to the duty of the inspector under paragraph (1) of this regulation to obliterate the stamp on that equipment on other grounds, the inspector shall not obliterate the stamp on that equipment for the reasons aforesaid unless upon the expiration of the said period the equipment is found upon testing to fall outside the prescribed limits of error.

(4) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this regulation shall require an inspector, until the expiration of the period of five years beginning with the date of the coming into operation of these Regulations, to obliterate the stamp of any weighing or measuring equipment falling within the prescribed limits of error which—

(a) bears a stamp applied prior to 1st January 1908; or

(b) was first stamped prior to the 1st January 1908 and which bears a stamp applied pursuant to any Regulations in force immediately before the date of the coming into operation of these Regulations.

(5) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this regulation shall require an inspector to obliterate the stamp on any avoirdupois weight of the bell type which bears a stamp applied prior to the 1st January 1954 and which falls within the prescribed limits of error.