The National Measurement Institute’s (NMI) annual plan to ensure Australian consumers and businesses have “correct weight” in volume, length and number has been launched for 2018.
As the national regulator of trade measurement, the NMI outlines a program of compliance activities across the economy, covering both wholesale and retail sales.
Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation, Senator Zed Seselja said the plan included visits to 8,000 businesses, testing 10,000 measuring instruments, inspecting 60,000 lines of packaged goods, and making 1,000 “secret shopper” trial purchases.
Senator Seselja said the areas of NMI action included a two-week blitz of the major supermarket chains, a review of sales of grain and grain products from the farm gate through to the shop front, and checks on the methods used to determine how farmers were paid.
He said that also included were checks to ensure the declared weight of pre-packaged frozen seafood did not include any ice or glaze, an audit of manufacturers’ and importers’ systems to help prevent any non-compliant products entering the supply chain, and a focus on the accuracy of fuel dispensers.
He said there were some basic principles that businesses should follow to ensure they are giving their customers correct measure.
“If you’re using a measuring instrument such as a scale to determine a price, you need to ensure that the instrument is an approved type and accurate at all times,” Senator Seselja said.
“You must ensure that any packaged goods you’re selling contain the amount stated on the label.”
He said there were penalties for businesses that breached the law.
The NMI’s four-page National Compliance Plan can be accessed at the Department of Industry Innovation and Science website at this PS News link.
