LEGAL METROLOGYProviding confidence in measurement results by legal provision

What isLegal Metrology?

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Legal Metrology is the activity through which the Government takes regulatory action over:

• measuringdevicesandprocedures usedin:

-trade

-publichealth,

-publicsafetyand

-environmentalprotection

• unitsofmeasurement

TheInternationalOrganizationofLegalMetrology,(OIML)definesLegalMetrologyasthatpartofMetrology:

• relatingtoactivitieswhichresultfromstatutoryrequirementsandconcernsmeasurement

-unitsofmeasurement

- measuring instruments

-methodsofmeasurement

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Why is Legal Metrology Necessary?

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TheaimofLegalMetrologyistoguaranteeaccuracyandfairnessincommercialtransactions/relationsandtoprotectthehealthandwellbeingofthemembersofsocietyandtheenvironment.

• Itprovidesalegislativebasisforthecontrolofmeasurement.

• Itprovidesabasisfortheresolutionofconflictsthatmayarisefrommeasurementtransactions.

• Itensurescorrectnessofmeasurementsforpublicgoods.

• Itisthelinkbetweentheconsumerandsupplierthatguardstheinterestofboth.

• Itpromoteseconomicandsocialbenefits.

When is Legal Metrology Necessary?

LegalMetrologyisappliedtomeasurementsperformedinthepublicinterestwherethestatemaywishtoexecisemandatorycontrol.DevicesundersuchcontrolarelistedintheSchedulesto the Metrology Regulations.

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Who Benefits from Legal Metrology?

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LegalMetrologybenefitsallthoseusingmeasuringdevices/instrumentsandmeasurementproceduresinthepublicinterest.

Examplesofsuchareasare:

- Consumers

- GovernmentAgenciesenforcing regulations

- Manufacturers

- Retailers

- Industries

- Health&SafetyAgencies

- Environmental Agencies

- Communications

- Transportation

- PublicUtilities

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The Benefits of Legal Metrologyto the Economy

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BenefitstotheEconomy

Reduceddisputationandtransactioncosts:Intradetransactionswherethemeasurementprocesslackstransparencythereisconsiderablescopeforuncertainty,disputation,transactioncostandmarketinefficiency Levelplayingfield: Metrologicalcontrolensuresfairtradingbyeliminatingtheuseofshortmeasuretoobtaincommercialadvantagesovercompetitorsinthemarketplace Effective stock control: Thecollectionoftrademeasurementsbybusinessesprovidesaccurateandeffectivestockcontrol.

Improvementsinthecollectionofgovernmenttaxes: Collectingtaxesbasedonaccurateandconsistentmeasurementse.g.weightandvolumeensurescorrectrevenueisgenerated.

Nationalbenefitsforexports&importsofcommodity: Thesaleofbulkbymeasureandpre-packagedcommoditiesisasignificantcomponentofbothexportandimportnationalincome.

Increasedcompliance:Measuringinstrumentsusedforregulatorypurposesareabletoprovidecontinuousmonitoringandgreatlyincreasetheprobabilityofapprehension.Thisprovidesenhancedacceptancebyindustriesandcommunities. Supportofglobaltradeinmeasuringinstruments: ThedevelopmentregulationsbasedonInternationalRecommendationssupportstheglobalmarketformeasuringdevicesthatcomplywithinter-nationallyrecognisedstandards.

LegalMetrologystrivestoprotectallelementsofsociety.Itbenefitsboththeeconomyandsociety.

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The Benefits of Legal Metrologyto the Society

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BenefitstoSociety

Consumerprotection:Theincreasedconsistencyofmeasurementsofpre-packagedgoods,commoditiesandproductswhenadequatelycontrolled,hassignificantlyreduceddisputationandfraudwhileincreasingefficiencyinthemarketplace. Supportofacivilsociety: Trustandconfidenceinthemeasurementsystemcontributestothemaintenanceofacivilsociety.

Reductionofdeath&injuriesfromaccidents: Thisisanareawherethe,applicationoflegalmetrologyplaysacriticalrolewiththeuseofradarspeeddevices,breathalysersandemissioncontroldevices.Thesedevicescansignificantlyreducetheroaddeathtollbychangingpeople’sbehaviour,providingearlywarningsignsandprovidingeffectiveenforcementofsafetyrequirement. Improvementinthenaturalenvironment:Accuracyofinstrumentsmeasuringorganicandmetalpollutants,pesticides,toxicsubstancesandautomobileemissions. Improvedhealthfromstandardizationofmeasurement&testing:LegalMetrologythroughtimelyandaccuratediagnosisprovidessignificanteconomicandsocialbenefitsinmedicineandhealth.

The Scope of Legal Metrologyin Trinidad and Tobago

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LegalMetrologyaddressestheassuranceofthequalityofmeasurementsthroughcontrolofmeasuringdevicesandproceduresusedinmeasurements.Itoriginatedintheneedforfairtradebutalsoincludesotherapplicationsofmeasurement,suchaspublichealthandsafetyandprotectionoftheenvironment.InTrinidadandTobagothisisaccomplishedthroughtheMetrologyActNo.18of2004andtheMetrologyRegulationsandtheQuantityofGoodsRegulations. ThisActanditsRegulationsgivestheLegalMetrologyInspectorateoftheTrinidadandTobagoBureauofStandardsthepowersofenforcementandtheimplementationofmandatorymetrologicalactivities.

The legal metrological controls are:

· Registration&Certification-Organisationsorpersonsimporting,selling,installing,servicingorrepairingandcalibratingmeasuringdevicesusedfortrademustberegisteredandcertifiedbyTTBS.

· PatternApproval-Thisistheprocesswhereameasuringdeviceisexaminedandtestedtoensurethatitisadequatetocarryoutthefunctionforwhichitwasdesigned.

· InitialVerification-Testsperformedonthemeasuringdevicestoensurereliabilitybeforeuse.

· In-ServiceVerification-Testsperformedonthemeasuringdevicestoensurereliabilityduringuse.

· SurveillanceofQuantityofGoods- This coversgoodssoldatpointofsaleor prepackaged.

· FieldSurveillance-Checksforperformanceof measuringdevicesunderconditionsofuse.

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ScopeofLegalMetrologyinTrinidadandTobago

Verification of Specified Measuring Instruments

Development of Regulations to support

control of measuring devices.

Ensure that Pattern Approved devices are used

in trade

Surveillance of Measuring Devices and

Quantities of Goods

MaintainVerification Standards

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PublicEducation

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Legal Metrology Inspectorate1-2 Century Drive,

Trincity Industrial Estate, Macoya, Tunapuna.

TEL.: (868)662-TTBS (8827), 4481/2, 663-4835/6Email: lmi@ttbs.org.tt

LMI 2008-05-07 Rev 0