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I am or represent a:
Supermarket Chain (Large >10 stores)
Supermarket Chain (Small 4-10 Stores)
Independent Grocer (Affiliated)
Independent Grocer (Non-Affiliated)
Trade Association
Consumer
Consumer Association
Service Company
Government Agency
Other stakeholder (if so, please enter description in comments below)
1. Measurement Standards
Measurement standards (weights) are used to calibrate and certify weighing devices (scales). Measurement Canada inspectors use standards which have been adjusted in relation to internationally accepted standards. Service Industry personnel may or may not use standards which have been certified. Use of improperly adjusted standards may result in errors being introduced when calibrating weighing devices.
Measurement Canada currently calibrates standards (weights) used to test scales being used in trade. These calibrated standards (weights) are traceable to international standards.
1.1 Should all standards (weights) being used to calibrate scales be required to be Measurement Canada recognized?
Yes No
Comments?
1.1.1 If the answer to 1.1 above was YES, what type of recognition would be appropriate? (Check all that apply)
Approval of type and design of standard Certificate of calibration (MC or MC recognized Laboratory) Registration of Standards with MC Other (please specify)
Measurement Canada inspectors use standards (weights) which are re-certified on a regular basis. Standards may change over time due to normal wear as well as from improper handling.
1.2 Should the standards used to calibrate trade devices (scales) have fixed mandatory calibration intervals?
Measurement Canada's standards (weights) which are used for testing measuring devices in the retail food industry are currently re-certified annually.
1.2.1 If the answer in 1.2 above was YES then should the re-certification periods applicable be consistent with those set out in the Weights and Measures legislation?
2. Devices (Scales)
Measurement Canada currently approves device (scale) design prior to allowing that device type to be sold in Canada for use in trade. This approval process ensures that the design of the device is capable of meeting minimum performance requirements. Currently, each device that is placed into use, must pass an initial inspection by a Measurement Canada inspector to ensure proper setup and calibration. Subsequent inspections are performed on a random basis to ensure that the measuring devices maintain the ability to measure accurately.
Measurement Canada currently approves all device types before they are available for use in trade in Canada.
2.1 Is the mandatory requirement for approval of device types before they may be used in trade in Canada something which should be maintained?
Measurement Canada currently Initially inspects all trade measurement devices (scales) before they are placed in service.
2.2 Is the mandatory requirement for devices to be initially inspected before they are placed into service (as a trade device) something which should be maintained?
Measurement Canada currently conducts random and periodic inspections of trade measurement devices to ensure that they remain accurate and able to perform satisfactorily.
2.3 Is the random and periodic inspection of trade measurement devices something which should be maintained?
2.3.1 If the answer in number 2.3 above was YES, what should the frequency of such inspections be?
6 months 1 year 2 years 3 years Not sure Other (please specify)
2.4 If you are a retailer (any size) do you currently have an internal system of metrological (measurement) controls for your measuring equipment (scales) in place now? This may included regular service contracts with 3rd party agencies, internal service arrangements, etc. If your current metrological controls consist of having Measurement Canada inspectors periodically inspect your scales, please answer NO to this question.
2.4.1 If the answer in 2.4 above was YES, please elaborate on the details of such controls including how they are implemented and on what frequency.
2.4.2 If the answer in 2.4 above was NO, please comment on what you feel would be appropriate metrological controls, who should provide them and on what frequency.
2.5 Who do you feel should provide the approval and inspection programs described throughout section 2 (Approvals, Initial Inspections, Periodic Inspections)?
Government (MC or other government) Industry (self regulation, Voluntary Codes, etc. Industry/Government partnerships Other (please specify)
3. Commodities/Services
Measurement Canada inspectors currently perform random Net Quantity inspections on Clerk Served commodities (i.e. bulk food, deli products, seafood & meats). Prepackaged retail food items are generally handled by other government departments such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (Separate Browser Window), le Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) (Separate Browser Window) or the Fair Business Practices Branch (Separate Browser Window) of Industry Canada. Some factors which could affect net quantity accuracy are scale use and calibration.
Measurement Canada currently conducts random Net Quantity inspections on Clerk Served items. (i.e. bulk foods, deli sales, candies)
3.1 Should clerk served products be subject to random inspections for Net Quantity?
Other government departments, such as CFIA & MAPAQ,, currently conduct random Net Quantity inspections on prepackaged food items. (i.e. meats, cheeses, etc.)
3.2 Should prepackaged food items be subject to random inspections for Net Quantity?
Measurement Canada and other governmental bodies currently sets standards and enforce legislative requirements for the measurement and marking of commodities.
3.2.1 If the answers in 3.1 or 3.2 above were YES, who should be responsible for determining compliance with Net Quantity regulations?
Not Sure / Not Applicable Government (MC or other government) Industry (self regulation, Voluntary Codes, etc.) Industry / Government Partnership Other (please specify)
3.2.2 If the answer in number 3.1 or 3.2 above were YES, what should the frequency of such inspections be?
3.3 If you are a retailer (any size) do you currently have an internal system of metrological (measurement) controls, for your packaged commodities, in place now? If your current metrological controls consist of having government inspectors periodically inspect your commodities, please answer NO to this question
3.3.1 If the answer in 3.3 above was YES, please elaborate on the details of such controls including how they are implemented and on what frequency.
3.3.2 If the answer in 3.3 above was NO, please comment on what you feel would be appropriate metrological controls, who should provide them and on what frequency.
4. Online Retailing
Online retailing appears to be a newly emerging marketing opportunity. It also present some interesting challenges for Measurement Canada. If you currently are, or are considering offering online retailing to your customers, please review this section of the questionnaire.
4.1 Do you currently offer online (Internet, telephone or other) retailing to your customers? If so please elaborate on the methods employed.
YES (Internet) YES (Other - please elaborate) YES (Telephone) NO, online not available
4.1.1 If the answer in 4.1 above was YES, approximately what percentage of your sales do you forecast to be through online retailing.
Percentage? %
4.1.2 If the answer in 4.1 above was YES, do you see this trend increasing or decreasing?
Increasing Decreasing
4.1.3 If the answer in 4.1 above was NO, is online retailing something which you would consider offering to your customers in the future?
5. Service Industry
In addition to selling most of the measuring devices, the scale service industry also performs much of the calibration and service work required. The service companies may be independent full time scale service companies, office equipment suppliers working with a variety of store equipment or they may be dedicated service arms of large retailers. In recent years, there has also been an increase in the number of independent system integrators operating from small shops and private residences many of whom have little or no scale experience.
The Service Industry (scale shops) who provide calibrations and repair services are not currently registered with or regulated by Measurement Canada.
5.1 Should the service industry be registered with MC in order to perform any work on measuring equipment which may affect its conformance with legislated requirements (Weights and Measures Act & Regulations)?
The Service Industry (scale shops) who provide calibration and repair services are not currently required to use standards (weights) recognized by MC.
5.2 Should the service industry be required to use standards which are recognized by MC (i.e. calibrated and certified by MC or other accredited or licensed laboratory)?
The Service Industry (scale shops) who provide calibration and repair services are not currently required to use standards (weights) which are internationally recognized.
5.3 Should the service industry be required to use standards (weights) which are traceable to international standards?
The Service Industry (scale shops) who provide calibration and repair services are not currently required to use test procedures recognized by MC.
5.4 Should the service industry be required to use test procedures which are recognized by MC when calibrating or certifying a scale?
The Service Industry (scale shops) are not currently subject to periodic review by Measurement Canada.
5.5 Should the service Industry be subject to periodic review by MC?
5.5.1 If the answer in 5.5 above was YES, what would MC review? (Check all that apply)
Test weights Procedures Records Competency Maintenance Other (please specify)
6. Disputes
Measurement Canada currently investigates all substantiated complaints or disputes. Measurement Canada is, and will remain, the ultimate authority in investigating legal metrology complaints and disputes in Canada. However the department will encourage dispute resolution between the affected parties.
When called to investigate, Measurement Canada inspectors may choose different levels of enforcement action. These include Warning letters, Non-Compliance Notices (request for repair), Seizure of device etc. Prosecution may be initiated if other enforcement methods do not result in compliance or if evidence of fraud or tampering is found.
6.1 Which of the following complaint and dispute resolution mechanisms would you consider to be the most effective?
Problem is investigated and resolved. Fines or other penalties are assessed. Problem is investigated and resolved. Compensation is left up to affected parties. Problem is investigated and resolved. Binding decision rendered on compensation. Other (please specify)
7. Alternate Service Delivery Mechanisms (ASD)
Measurement Canada intends to assess the feasability of alternate service providers where services are deemed to be necessary for trade sectors. Alternate Service Delivery may be used for the approval of device types, calibrations of standards, initial and periodic inspection of measuring devices and net quantity verification of commodities.
The mechanisms employed may include accreditation of organizations to provide some or all of these services, licensing arrangements, identification of other governmental bodies (federal, provincial or municipal) who can or do provide some or all of these services, as well as others not yet identified.
Currently, the only two ASD mechanisms officially in use by Measurement Canada are Accreditation to Measurement Canada's quality standard S-A-01 (based on ISO 9002) and the recognition of Approvals testing results by foreign regulatory agencies.
7.1 What ASD mechanisms would you consider acceptable for the delivery of services?
Accreditation to Measurement Canada Standards. Accreditation to other Standards. Licensing of 3rd party. Recognition of other Regulatory Agencies (foreign or domestic). Voluntary Codes. Other (please specify)
7.2 What ASD mechanisms would you consider unacceptable for the delivery of services?
7.3 Should ASD mechanisms be implemented for any or all of MC services (except dispute resolution) would any of your previous answers change?
Which Ones?
Why?
8. Periodic Sector Review
Measurement Canada will continue to monitor compliance within all of the trade sectors to ensure that established levels of intervention are adequate to maintain stakeholder confidence. To facilitate this, MC will need to establish performance indicators to measure sector compliance. Historically, performance indicators were mainly compliance rates for device and commodity inspections. These rates were determined from results obtained by MC inspectors during periodic inspection cycles.
8.1 How often should the Periodic Sector Review be done ?
Annual 3 year 5 years 7 years 10 years Other (please specify)
8.2 What types of performance indicators should be established for this trade sector? (Check all that apply)
Compliance (Devices) Compliance (Commodities) Number of Complaints Received Stakeholder Consultations Stakeholder Surveys Other (please specify)
8.3 Reviewing the attached Compliance Data (Separate Browser Window) (Appendix II), please comment on whether you consider these as acceptable numbers for this trade sector or not?
9. Metric
The Weights and Measures Regulations Part VII, requires the use of Metric units of measurement be used in the retailing of individually measured food items. Measurement Canada is not currently enforcing this part of the regulations and is instead allowing the marketplace to set the pace and extent of Metric conversion in the Retail Food industry.
9.1 Do you feel that the Metric legislation should be enforced or would you prefer to let the marketplace determine the pace and extent of Metric conversion?
Yes - Enforce the use of Metric only. No - Allow the Industry to set the pace of conversion.
9.2 The current situation in the Retail Food industry often sees advertising in Imperial (pounds) units of measure, while the scales are in Metric (kilograms) units of measure. This generates many complaints to the department and makes it very difficult for the consumer. Is this a situation that should be addressed?
Yes - Advertising and Scale units should be the same. No - Allow the Industry to determine what works.
9.3 Do you have any other comments with respect to the use of Metric?
Would you like someone from the RFSR Team to contact you?
What is your preferred contact method?
Although we would like to receive the following information from you, it is optional unless you wish to have someone contact you:
Thank You!