Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Multiples and fractions of units N.I.

8.—(1) Save as may be prescribed and subject to any regulations made under Article 13—

(a) a linear measure specified in Part I of Schedule 1 may be marked in whole or in part with divisions and subdivisions representing any shorter length or lengths;

(b) no capacity measure specified in Part IV of Schedule 1 shall be used for trade by means of any division or subdivision marked thereon as a capacity measure of any lesser quantity.

(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1)( b) shall be guilty of an offence, and any measure used, or in any person's possession for use, in contravention of that sub-paragraph shall be liable to be forfeited.

(3) The Department may by regulations prescribe what may be treated for the purposes of use for trade as the equivalent of, or of any multiple or fraction of, any unit of measurement included in[F1 Schedule 1 to the Act of 1985] in terms of any other such unit, so however that the Department shall not by any such regulations prescribe an equivalent of, or of any multiple or fraction of, any unit of measurement which is inconsistent with any equivalent of that unit, multiple or fraction for the time being prescribed by regulations under[F1 section 10(3) of the Act of 1985].

(4) Nothing in any regulations under paragraph (3) shall apply to any transaction in drugs.

(5) The Department of Health and Social Services may by regulations, which shall have effect notwithstanding anything in, or in any instrument made under, any other enactment—

(a) prescribe what may be treated for the purposes of dealings with drugs as the equivalent of, or of any multiple or fraction of, any unit of measurement[F1 which is included in Schedule 1 to the Act of 1985 or was on 25th October 1967 included in Schedule 1 to the Weights and Measures Act 1963] in terms of any other such unit;

(b) require that any person carrying out any such dealing with drugs as is specified in the regulations for the purposes of which the quantity of the drugs is expressed in terms of any such unit as aforesaid which is so specified shall carry out that dealing in terms of such equivalent quantity prescribed under sub-paragraph ( a) as is so specified.

F1 1985 c. 72