The latest compliance plan from the National Measurement Institute (NMI) will help instill confidence in trade measurement and ensure a level playing field between buyers and sellers.
NMI’s Legal Metrology General Manager, Bill Loizides, said NMI’s 2022–23 national compliance plan will inform regulated entities and the community of the trade measurement compliance activities for the next 12 months.
‘During times of financial pressure, high business and living costs impact both traders and consumers alike—and inaccurate trade measurements can significantly undercut value for money,’ Mr Loizides said.
‘As the national regulator of trade measurement, NMI undertakes a major program of compliance activities each year across industry sectors to make sure systems such as shop scales, fuel dispensers, and utility meters are reliable and deliver fair measure.’
The 2022–23 national compliance plan includes concentrated audits of over-the-counter transactions at:
- fruit and vegetable retailers
- meat, fish and poultry retailers
- delicatessens and smallgoods retailers.
The plan also details audit, education and inspection programs focusing on:
- businesses in regional and remote areas
- business-to-business measurement
- weighbridges
- fuel quality
- complex measuring instruments.
In 2022–23, trade measurement inspectors will visit and audit 8,000 businesses, inspect 60,000 lines of packaged goods and monitor fuel quality at 750 businesses nationwide.
‘Trade measurement inspectors find that most businesses are doing the right thing. Errors are mostly inadvertent and most businesses quickly correct their processes once they are pointed out. However repeat or severe offenders may face penalties ranging from fines through to prosecution,’ Mr Loizides said.
Australia has an estimated trillion dollars’ worth of economic activity that involves trade measurement. NMI’s compliance activities are critical in helping consumers and businesses make informed buying decisions.
Read the 2022–23 national compliance plan