Weights and measures

Trading Standards Role in Respect of Weights and Measures

All goods, whether pre-packed or not, should be of the correct weight or measure stated on the packaging or indicated on the premises.

Part of our job is to ensure that the public receive the correct amount of any product they buy. 

Almost all goods today are sold by some reference to either its weight or measure, whether by the pint, litre, gramme or metre. This includes everyday items such as bread, petrol, beer, clothing material, sand or virtually anything else you can think of. Trading Standards enforce a complex set of regulations designed to ensure that the public and businesses can have confidence in their purchases and ensures fair competition. We do this by:

• Verifying that weighing and measuring equipment is initially accurate
• Routinely visiting businesses and checking weighing and measuring equipment
• Checking products already in the shops
• Reacting to complaints of short measure           

If you would like further information you can view more guidance at the Trading Standards Institute website.

Legislation.gov.uk allows you to view the Weights and Measures Act and all the Regulations.

If you think you have received short measure from a business in Doncaster, please contact us via the details at the top of this page, or alternatively contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

For businesses:

• to book an appointment for the Verification Service, please contact us on 01302 862365.

• open the PDF document in the right-hand column of this page for a list of Public Weighbridges in Doncaster.

Doncaster Takes Part in the 'Medical Weighing Project'

Trading Standards Officers in Doncaster took part in a project that involved local authorities right across the UK. The aim of this project was to check all weighing equipment within hospitals in Doncaster, and help hospitals improve their standards by raising the importance of weighing equipment in a medical environment.

This was the second phase of initial inspections that were carried out previously Doncaster, when Trading Standards Officers visited more than 200 hospitals across the UK. Thousands of pieces of equipment were checked for accuracy, and advice was given to health care professionals to understand the importance of the right equipment, used properly.

The project results showed success and marked improvements in all key areas, and good relationships have been forged between Doncaster Council and the hospitals to maintain and build upon these achievements.