Risk-based approach to legal control of measuring instruments - UK professional enforcement practice

摘要

In the UK we control trade measurement, by legal and other means, to protect consumers and encourage fair trade. This is done by control of quantities, for packaged goods and direct sales, and by control of measuring instruments. This paper is about control of measuring instruments and in particular about in-service control of instruments in use for trade. We call this 'in-service enforcement' because in essence it is the legal control of fair and legal instruments to ensure fair trade. Legal control of measuring instruments in the UK includes some medical, environmental and law enforcement applications but by far the most important is control of instruments in use for trade. NWML, a part of the department of Trade and Industry, is responsible for policy and legislation and is involved in product certification for most weighing and measuring instruments. Since April 2006 we also deal with energy measurement, being responsible for gas and electricity meters.