Weights and Measures

Act: Weights and Measures Act, R.S.C. 1988, c. W-6
Regulation: Weights and Measures Regulations, C.R.C., c. 1605

To Whom Does This Apply?

The Weights and Measures Act and Regulations set the rules of the Canadian marketplace with respect to the purchase and sale of measured products and services. The Act and Regulations apply to:

• manufacturers;
• owners and operators of measuring devices (supermarket scales, gasoline pumps, aviation, propane and fuel dispensers, railway car and vehicle scales, petroleum refinery meters, etc.);
• service/repair agencies;
• Measurement Canada authorized service providers;
• owners of measurement standards (weights, volume test measures);
• businesses and consumers who suspect they have not received accurate measurement.

Summary

The Weights and Measures Act requires that:

• measuring devices be approved for use in Canada;
• only approved and certified measuring devices be used in measurement based transactions;
• owners and operators ensure their measuring devices measure accurately and are not used in a fraudulent manner;
• the quantities declared for products bought and sold on the basis of measurement be accurate within prescribed limits; and
• only units of measurement described in the Act be used in commercial transactions.

The Weights and Measures Regulations specify the accuracy performance requirements for measuring devices, commodities, services, and measurement standards, measuring device installation and usage requirements, and the fees and charges associated with measuring device approval and certification.

Owners and operators are legally responsible for ensuring their measuring devices measure accurately. In order to satisfy this requirement, owners and operators should make sure that their measuring devices:

• are approved and certified for use in Canada. (You can determine if a measuring device is approved and certified by viewing the serial plate to obtain the Measurement Canada approval number and date of the first certification. A Measurement Canada or Measurement Canada authorized service provider certification sticker will also be affixed to the measuring device if it has been certified for use in commercial transactions.);
• are appropriate for their intended use. Scales and meters are designed with different features and capabilities for measuring certain types of products, such as precious metal scales for measuring gold, vehicle scales for weighing trucks and trains, and dispensers for measuring propane;
• are properly installed and protected from environmental interference;
• are used in a manner that ensures accurate measurement; and
• clearly indicate the amount of product weighed or measured.

The accuracy of a measuring device should be checked on a regular basis and staff using the device should be trained on its proper operation and use. In addition, a Measurement Canada inspector or a Measurement Canada authorized service provider may visit a business to test and certify the accuracy of your measuring device. If the measuring device is found to be measuring inaccurately, repairs will be needed. Depending on the measurement error identified, the defective device may be required to be taken out of service until the necessary repairs are made.

Complaint Inspections

On occasion, businesses or consumers may suspect that they are not receiving accurate measurement. The two parties to a measurement transaction are encouraged to try and resolve the dispute between themselves. However, if this approach does not resolve the matter, either party may submit a complaint to Measurement Canada's local district office. Measurement Canada will perform a complaint inspection and advise the complainant of the results. As a general practice, Measurement Canada does not divulge the name of the person who made the complaint inspection request.

Measurement Canada does not release the degree of the measurement error to the complainant; nor does it negotiate, on behalf of the complainant, any reimbursement due to inaccurate measurement. If noncompliance with the legislation is determined, Measurement Canada directs the person responsible to take corrective action within a specified period of time.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Quebec Contact(s):
Mr. Frank Bramos
District Manager (Montréal/South Shore)
Measurement Canada
2nd Floor
6850 Sherbrooke Street East
Montréal, Quebec  H1N 1E1
Telephone: 514-496-8069
Fax: 514-283-1864
E-mail: bramos.frank@ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://mc.ic.gc.ca

Mr. Robert Martineau
District Manager (Montréal/Laurentians)
Measurement Canada
2nd Floor
6850 Sherbrooke Street East
Montréal, Quebec  H1N 1E1
Telephone: 514-283-2209
Fax: 514-283-1864
E-mail: martineau.robert@ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://mc.ic.gc.ca

Mr. Clermont Thibault
District Manager (Quebec)
Measurement Canada
3rd Floor
1141 Route de l'Église
Sainte-Foy, Quebec  G1V 3W5
Telephone: 418-648-7422
Fax: 418-648-4815
E-mail: thibault.clermont@ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://mc.ic.gc.ca

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National Contact(s):
Ms. Coleen Burningham
Director
Marketing and Business Operations Directorate
Measurement Canada
Standards Building, 151 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0C9
Telephone: 613-952-2631
Fax: 613-952-5405
E-mail: burningham.coleen@ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://mc.ic.gc.ca