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National Measurement and Regulation Office Section 70 Returns Annual Report

Weights & Measures Act 1985

Section 70 Returns

Annual Report 2014-15

Contents

Chapter 1 Executive Summary

Chapter 2 Introduction

Chapter 3 The Process

Chapter 4 Data Analysis

Chapter 5 Action Taken

Chapter 6 Transaction in Goods

Chapter 7 Measuring Detriment

Chapter 8 Regional Data

Chapter 9 Risk Matrix

Chapter 10 Projects

Chapter 11 Other Stakeholders

Annex A Authority Participation

3


Chapter 1

Executive Summary

The primary legislation governing the weights and measures regime in the UK is the 1985 Weights and Measures Act (the “1985 Act”). The National Measurement & Regulation Office (NMRO) is responsible for the 1985 Act and the secondary legislation made under the 1985 Act and EU Directives. Local Weights and Measures Authorities (LWMAs) trading standards departments deliver the local enforcement of most of the UK’s weights and measures legislation.

Under section 70 of the 1985 Act LWMAs have a statutory requirement to report to the Secretary of State the level of local weights and measures enforcement work conducted over a twelve month period. The information is used as evidence to inform and update the NMRO risk matrix in relation to instruments, pre-packages and transactions. This analysis of data is intended to help local authorities focus their resources to where it matters thus helping to plan a targeted risk-based delivery avoiding unnecessary routine interventions.

This year 99% of authorities submitted a return to the NMRO who collate and report the information on behalf of the Secretary of State. The format of the section 70 return for 2014/15 includes the following changes; the inclusion of medical weighing equipment, the removal of the historically three lowest inspected instrument categories; weights, length measures and ‘other’. A category for liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems (LFTMMS) was subsequently created as this is a high value product with a likelihood of failure. Previously the risk rating of each piece of equipment was calculated using the number of equipment identified as inaccurate and further action taken from the estimated pieces of equipment in use. This has been changed and we calculate the number of equipment identified as inaccurate and further action taken from the number of pieces of equipment that has been inspected or verified. This has led to an increase in failure rate percentages.

The data analysis for section 70 returns for 2014/15 shows that the categories with the highest potential for failure are;

Medical Weighing Equipment

Weighbridges and scales equal to or greater than 5 tonnes (≥5000 kg)

Non-automatic weighing instruments greater than 30 kg and less than 5 tonnes (> 30kg < 5000 kg)

Liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems

The risk matrix has been updated accordingly.

When compared to the previous year’s data (2013/14) the categories with the highest potential for failure remain unchanged, but with the addition of medical weighing equipment. Previously weighbridges & scales > 5 tonnes were rated as very likely to fail with very high risk impact, this rating has not changed. Medical Weighing Equipment had not previously been counted, but the results of the medical weighing project 2013/14 which produced a non-compliance rate of 23% resulted in this equipment being added to the Section 70 return and subsequent report, this will also be rated as very likely to fail with very high risk impact. Liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems risk rating remains the same as the previous year as likely failure with very high impact of risk. The position of non-automatic weighing instruments >30kg <5t on the risk matrix has been increased to likely failure with low impact of failure due to the increase in non-compliance.

4


In maintaining the previous year’s format it remains the long term aim of the report to be able to give an accurate monetary figure on consumer detriment. Analysis of this data identified weighbridges > 5 t as the equipment which gives the largest detriment to both Consumers and Business. This supports its position on the Risk Matrix. To build on this and to enable NMRO to be able to give a monetary figure of the cost of savings made to business by Trading Standards activity, 2012/13 return had another alteration made and asked authorities to record the ‘number of businesses your LA assisted into compliance’ & ’estimated cost saving to the business’. The overall identified savings to business resulting directly from Trading Standards activity is £1,181,000, the total number of business TS assisted into compliance was 3087. The total percentage of non compliant business was 23%. This data has resulted in a new chapter being added to this report, Measuring Detriment. The aim of collating and analysing this data is to identify the cost to both consumers and business of inaccurate equipment being in use for trade and the positive outcome of Trading Standards interventions. Authorities were given the opportunity in the return to feed back to NMRO about their foremost concerns relating to weights and measures. The main theme generated from responses is of the familiar annual struggles of time, budget and the battle to gain priority status against other competing trading standards activities. This was also reflected in the previous three years reports. A major worry for authorities, highlighted in the returns, is staff resourcing and the diminishing number of newly qualified inspectors. For some authorities the level of resource required (financial and time input) to train an officer to competency as a Weights and Measures Inspector is significant and harder to justify due to lower priority given to the service in relation to metrology work. The chart below shows that the number of qualified inspectors of weights and measures from the 200 participating authorities is 1047, a decrease of 19 on last year’s figure of 1066. The number of full time equivalents of staff actively engaged in weights and measures work is 257 which is again a decrease of 47 from last year’s figure of 304 equating to an average of 1.2 staff per participating authority. For staff members studying for the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards, DCATS legal metrology module there are 50, averaging as 0.25 per authority, this figure is also a decrease as there were 67 last year, averaging as 0.33 per authority.

5


The NMRO is committed to keeping metrology on authorities’ agendas by supporting project based and local authority regional co-operation plus identification of regional and national trends. Projects are conducted on different levels, implemented by individual authorities, regional metrology groups or on a national level. The NMRO encourage authorities to take part in these projects by offering low cost accessible training, but also to submit the write up and results of authority or regional wide projects. .

This information allows the NMRO to build a realistic picture of metrology work and results in more detail than can be ascertained from just the section 70 returns themselves. It highlights the trends in weights and measures, which provides evidence when deciding on national projects and allows evidence based policy making.

1039

298

59

1066

304

67

1047

257

50

Number of Inspectors of Weightsand Measures

Number of full time equivalents(FTE) of staff engaged in Weights

and Measures work

Number of staff registered andactively studying for the TSI Legal

Metrology Module

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

6


Top ten voted for nationally co-ordinated projects

National Project 2015/16 – 2016/17

NMRO is currently running a two year project that encompasses the top 4 issues raised last year as well as targeting high risk equipment, focused on ‘Self’ Verification activities within the fuel dispenser, weighbridge and bulk fuel industries. This also goes some way to addressing the concerns raised regarding lack of expertise by providing free training at a regional level.

Loss of expertise/resources 13%

Weighbridges (inc scrap metal) 13%

Self-verifier activity - weighing & measuring equipment

12%

NAWI’s sold via internet/imported 10%

Medical weighing equipment/scales

8%

Packaged Goods 6%

Liquid fuel dispensers 5.6%

Bulk fuel tankers 4.6%

Lack of metrology related intelligence

4.2%

Sale by bowl or item 3%

7


NMRO Recommendations

1. To maintain the risk based approach to weights and measures enforcement, NMRO will promote the findings of the section 70 report, the risk matrix and these recommendations to all local authorities.

2. To promote a reduction in the rate of non-compliance resulting in improved consumer protection and fair competition in the future.

3. To encourage LWMAs to take part in authority, regional and national metrology projects and to submit the results to the NMRO.

4. To co-ordinate national projects that target the highest risk rated equipment and encourage competence in these areas.

5. To ensure the Section 70 Report is available to NTSB Intelligence Hub in order to provide a Metrology feed into the Strategic Assessment.

6. A letter to the CEO of those authorities not submitting a Section 70 return will be sent to remind them of their legal obligation.

8


Chapter 2

Introduction

This report is a collation of the activities reported to the National Measurement & Regulation Office (NMRO) by Local Weights and Measures Authorities (LWMAs) throughout Great Britain under section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 for the year 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015.

Section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 states;

“Annual reports by local weights and measures authorities

(1) Each local weights and measures authority shall, in respect of each financial year of the authority, make to the Secretary of State by such date as he may direct a report on the operation during that year of the arrangements made to give effect in that authority's area -

(a) to the purposes of this Act, and

(b) to functions relating to weights and measures which are conferred on the authority otherwise than by or under this Act and which are specified, in a notice in writing given to the authority by the Secretary of State and not withdrawn, as functions to which this paragraph applies.

(2) Any report under subsection (1) above shall be in such form and contain such particulars of such

matters as the Secretary of State may direct.

(3) Any report made to the Secretary of State under this section may be published by the local weights

and measures authority by whom it is made.

(4) The Secretary of State may include the whole or any part of, or any information contained in, any such report, whether published or not, in any statement which may be made or published by the Secretary of State with respect to such arrangements as are mentioned in subsection (1) above either generally or in any part icular area.”

Therefore, authorities have a statutory duty to report the level of local enforcement work conducted over a twelve month period. This year, 200 out of 202 authorities (99%) returned the report to the NMRO. This result is a 4% increase from 2013-2014. The is the highest number of returns we have seen since recording this data, and it is encouraging to see an upward trend in returns while continuing to implement a deadline for returns. The June deadline was implemented in order to produce a Section 70 Report that could be used at an earlier date than in previous years. In publishing the Section 70 Report within 7 months of the financial year end the information held within the report can used to assist LA in planning the following year’s budget and activities. Given the high number of authorities who have trouble quantifying the needed data, NMRO recommends that authorities try to incorporate the S70 form into their inspection forms. This tailored-to approach would help increase the accuracy and accessibility of the relevant figures. NMRO has also previously approached the makers of the databases used by TS and invited them to attend the Metrology Seminar to give advice on how best to retrieve the data required, to date only one has accepted this invitation.

9


The NMRO uses the data returned by authorities to;

Indicate the risk level of weights and measures equipment, pre-packages and transactions in goods

Target future co-ordinated projects of regional and national concern

Implement evidence based policymaking

Provide information to NTSIB to feed into the strategic assessment

It is anticipated that the deadline for submitting the Section 70 Return will remain 30/06/16 to allow for the report to be published before the metrology expert panel meeting in autumn 2016 this would allow national projects to be selected and disseminated to LWMA before Jan/Feb 2017 when LWMA plan for the following financial year.

10


Chapter 3

The Process

Method of collecting data: Local weights and measures authorities are asked to supply information using

a form made available on the NMRO website, which when they have completed is sent to a specific section 70 email address as an attachment. The data collection form required pursuant to section 70(2) of the Act contains two parts. A section relating to measuring compliance of weighing and measuring equipment, in which the following information is requested:

Number of pieces of equipment in the region

Number of individual pieces of equipment inspected

Number of individual pieces of equipment verified

Number of pieces of equipment found incorrect and a 28 day notice issued

Number of pieces of equipment found incorrect and verification mark removed

Number of pieces of equipment related to prosecution or cautions

Approximate percentage of equipment found outside limit of error

Approximate percentage of equipment delivering short measure

Approximate percentage of equipment delivering excess measure

The requested equipment reported on is listed below, for the purpose of this report the shortened title of the equipment is stated in brackets after the equipment;

Liquid fuel measuring instruments (LFMIs)

Liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems (LFTMMS)

Weighbridges and scales ≥5 tones (weighbridges)

Non-automatic weighing instruments ≤30 kilograms (NAWIs ≤30kg)

Non-automatic weighing instruments >30 kilograms but <5 tonnes (NAWIs >30kg <5t)

Automatic weighing instruments (AWIs)

Intoxicating liquor measuring instruments (ILMIs)

Medical Weighing Equipment

Secondly, there is a section relating to measuring compliance in transaction of goods, in which the following information is requested;

Number of businesses liable to inspection

Number of businesses due to be inspected this year

Number of businesses inspected

Number of businesses compliant

Number of businesses LWMA assisted into compliance

Estimated cost saving to the business

In reference to;

Packaging plants

Importers of packaged goods

Bulk products by weight or volume

Retail outlets

Medical premises

11


Chapter 4

Data analysis Inspection rate Inspection rate is the number of individual pieces of equipment inspected by Inspectors of Weights and Measures out of the reported total number of pieces of equipment known to be in the area. For example, in 2014/145, 2910 weighbridges were inspected out of a reported 8140 pieces of equipment therefore the inspection rate was 35%. The average inspection rate of all reported equipment is 6.6% a decrease of 12% compared to 2013/14.

Graph 1: Percentage of inspections on all equipment types The most inspected type of equipment in 2014/15 was weighbridges with 35% of all reported weighbridges being inspected. The second and third most inspected types of equipment were liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems with 20% and liquid fuel measuring instruments (LFMIs) with 16% inspection rate. The inspection rates have decreased when compared with 13/14 results with a reported 39% of weighbridges being inspected followed by 25% of liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems and 20% of LFMIs. The lowest inspection rate in 14/15 was for intoxicating liquor measuring instruments 5% which has increased when compared with 2013/14 when the rate was 4%. NAWIs ≤30kg has seen a 2% decrease while NAWIs >30kg <5t have seen a 1% decrease, there was a 2% increase in the inspection rate for AWIs. The largest decrease in inspection rates was for liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems and liquid fuel measuring instruments which dropped by 5 & 4% respectively, which is surprising considering that the submitted returns increased by 4%, and they are two of the highest risk rated pieces of equipment most likely to fail on the risk matrix. However, it is encouraging to note that they are also two of the three most inspected pieces of equipment which suggests Local Authorities are directing their limited and often stretched resources towards the appropriate areas of Metrology work.

16

20

35

9

15

11

5

Percentage of inspections on all equipment types

Liquid fuel measuring instruments


Weighbridges & scales >5t

Non-automatic weighing instruments < 30kg

Non-automatic weighing instruments > 30kg< 5t

Automatic weighing instruments

Intoxicating liquor measuring instruments

12


Chapter 5

Action taken

This section of the report discusses the equipment which has the highest rate of action taken. This covers equipment which was inspected, not correct and further action was necessary either by issuing a 28 day notice, removing the verification mark or being related to prosecution or cautions. Out of all of the equipment the average further action was:

2.0% required a 28 day notice

0.74% had the verification mark removed

0.02% (62 pieces of equipment) were related to prosecution or cautions

The highest rates of action taken figures:

1. Weighbridges and scales >5000kg – 6%

2. Liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems – 3%

3. NAWIs >30kg <5t – 2%

1. Percentages for weighbridges and scales ≥ 5t and actions taken

35

24

2

0

7

42

Number inspected Number verified Number foundincorrect and 28

days notice issued

Number foundincorrect &

verification markremoved

Number related toprosecution or

cautions %

Average % ofequipment found

outside limit of error

Average % ofequipment outside

limit of errorreading short

measure


limit of errorreading excess

measure

Weighbridges and scales ≥ 5t

13


The graph shows that the number of weighbridges found incorrect and issued 28 days’ notice is 1.83% higher than the average (for all equipment) and the number found incorrect and the verification mark removed is 1.21% higher. Twenty one pieces of equipment were related to prosecutions or a caution that is equal to the national average. Compared to 13/14 the inspection rate of weighbridges is down by 3%, since 2011/12 the inspection rate for this equipment has decreased steadily from 51% to 36%. However the number found to be incorrect and issued 28 days’ notice issued has remained consistent at 4%. The number of verification marks removed has decreased by 1%. Prosecutions and cautions have increased from 0.08% to 0.25% (note: figures below 0.5% do not show on the above chart). This increase in prosecutions and cautions against a decrease in inspection rates justifies weighbridges and scales position on the risk matrix and should be used to support intelligence led inspections in this area.

2. Percentages for liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems and actions taken

In comparison to 2013/14 the inspection rate of Liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems has decreased by 5%, a total of 15% over the last three years The average rate for being issued a 28 day notice is 0.79% above the national average for all equipment, but are 0.31% below average for having the verification mark removed. There were no prosecutions or cautions.

20

14

3

00

10 0

Numberinspected

Number verified Number foundincorrect and 28

days noticeissued



Number relatedto prosecution or

cautions

Average % ofequipment foundoutside limit of

error

Average % ofequipment

outside limit oferror reading

short measure

Average % ofequipment

outside limit oferror reading

excess measure


14


3. Percentages for non-automatic weighing instruments > 30kg < 5t and actions taken

In comparison with 2013/14 the inspection of NAWIs >30kg <5t has decreased by 1% The number of NAWIs found incorrect and issued 28 days’ notice is 0.92% below the average percentage rate (for all equipment) and the number found incorrect and the verification mark removed is 0.04% below the average. There were no prosecutions or cautions issued.

15

21

10

5

2

2

Number inspected Number verified Number foundincorrect and 28

days notice issued



Number related toprosecution or

cautions

Average % ofequipment found

outside limit of error


limit of error readingshort measure


limit of error readingexcess measure

Non-automatic weighing instruments > 30kg < 5t

15


Chapter 6

Transactions in goods Transactions in goods relates to the second section of the form, which requires authorities to indicate the metrological compliance in transactions. It targets four types of business; packaging plants, importers of packaged goods, those selling bulk products by weight or volume and retail outlets. It should be noted that approximately 170% of all weights and measures transactions are made through pre-packages and 30% weighed or measured at the point of sale using instruments. Measuring metrological compliance in transactions

The results for compliance in transactions show that 23% (5154 out of 22552) of all businesses which were liable to inspection and visited were found to be non-compliant. Medical premises have the highest percentage ratio of non-compliance at 47% (253 out of 544 visited), followed by Retail outlets at 24% (4133 out of 17457 visited), Importers of packaged goods at 22% (53 out of 241 visited), Packaging Plants (370 out of 2258 visited) and Bulk products sold by weight or volume (345 out of 2052 visited) both had a non-compliance rate of 17%. With the exception of Retail outlets whose non-compliance rate has reduced by 3% compared the previous year all non-compliance rates have increased. The largest increase is importers of packaged goods whose non-compliance rate has increased by 17%, followed by bulk products sold by weight or volume which increased by 7%, then Packaging plants which increased by 3%. Packaging plants have the highest inspection rate at 30% this is an increase on the previous year of 8%, along with bulk products sold by weight or volume they have the lowest rate of non-compliance. Bulk products sold by weight or volume were second with an inspection rate of 18%, an increase of 3% from the previous year. Importers of packaged goods have an inspection rate of 11%, again this is an increase from the previous year of 6%. Medical premises also have an inspection rate of 11% and have the highest rate of non-compliance. Retail outlets scored lowest for inspections at 5%, an increase of 1% from the previous year and they have the second highest rate of non-compliance. It is of note that the premises with highest non-compliance rates have the lowest inspection rates.

1 Deloitte Report 2009

74982128 11084

336388

561

2279

551 2514

59178

1100

2229238 2001 17234

539

361 53 337 4101

251

Packaging plants Importers ofpackaged goods

Bulk products byweight or volume

Retail outlets Medical premises

Businesses not compliant

Number of businesses visited

Number of businesses due thisyear

Number of businesses liable toinspection but not inspected

16


Chapter 7 Measuring Detriment and Interventions In order to collate this data the return form was altered to ask authorities to record the percentage of equipment found outside of the limit of error, and respectively the percentage which gave short and excess measure. The infancy of the request(s) means the data correlated for this report cannot be seen as precise as the response population for this information was small in comparison with the whole population, 24% of all LWMAs supplied this data. The majority of authorities do not currently record such figures and/or do not have a system in place to do so. As such the figures available are an approximation. It is hoped that authorities will take the step to begin to record the necessary data so that future reports are more representative of the real picture. In order to facilitate this and ensure data provided is more representative of the whole of the UK. Data that has been supplied is shown on the table below:

Equipment Type

Average % of equipment found outside limit of error

Average % of equipment outside limit of error reading short measure

Average % of equipment outside limit of error reading excess measure

LFMIs 1.71% 0.99% 0.45%

LFTMMS 0.95% 0.29% 0.15% Weighbridges & Scales >5T 6.92% 3.88% 2.34%

NAWI <30 kg 3.07% 2.36% 0.70%

NAWI >30 kg < 5T 4.83% 2.44% 1.53%

AWI 0.68% 0.51% 0.00%

ILMI 0.38% 0.18% 1.22% We see that the equipment that gives the largest detriment to both business (equipment dispensing excess measure) and consumers (equipment dispensing short measure) is Weighbridges & Scales >5T. This is followed by NAWI over 30kg but less than 5t, then NAWI less than 30kg. The equipment giving the smallest detriment is ILMI. We also altered the s70 return form to measure the savings made to business when Trading Standards intervened to give advice, when punitive action could have been taken. The results, as with the additions made the previous year and the infancy of the request(s), means the data correlated for this report cannot be seen as precise as the response population for this information was small in comparison with the whole population. The majority of authorities do not currently record such figures and/or do not have a system in place to do so. As such the figures available are an approximation. In order to improve the accuracy of data collected under this request in the 2013/14 return one region completed their Section 70 Returns and used the same equation across the whole region to produce a figure for this request, they used the maximum fine that could have been issued had TS taken enforcement action rather than given advice on how to make the business compliant. This equation for calculating the figure requested formed part of the guidance for completing the 2014/15 return, and it is hoped that authorities will take the step to begin to record the necessary data so that future reports are more representative of the real picture. The overall identified savings to business resulting directly from Trading Standards activity is £1,181,000, 11% of LWMA submitted this data. The total number of business TS assisted into compliance was 3087, 57% of LWMA submitted this data.

17


Chapter 8

Regional Data

Wales

All Equipment

Total No. of equipment

No. inspected

No. verified No. found incorrect 28 days notice

issued

No. found incorrect & verification

mark removed

No. related to prosecution or

cautions

74430 19912 471 260 120 10

N/A 27% 2.37% 1.3% 0.60% 0.05%

No. of authorities within region

22

No. of authorities participating in S70 21 No. of Inspectors of W&M’s

94

No. of FTE of staff engaged in W&M’s work

23.26

No. of staff registered & actively studying for the DCATS Legal Metrology Module

6

18


Individual Equipment

Actual or estimated No.

No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 6805 3491 138 36 47 0

LFMMS

212

122

13

1

4

0

Weighbridges

566

298

50

49

14

10

NAWIs ≤30kg

11523

2728

10

98

20

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

1012

323

7

17

14

0

AWIs

135

22

1

0

1

0

ILMIs

54177

12928

252

59

20

0

Business

No. of businesses

liable to inspection

No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited

No. of businesses compliant

No of business you assisted into compliance.

Estimated cost saving

to the business

Packaging plants 753 235 214 179 69 120000


46

30

10

5

5

0

Businesses selling bulk products by weight or volume

1286

376

220

196

64

87000

Retail Outlet

20560

3756

2273

2095

540

575000

Medical premises

598

86

65

57

N/A

N/A

19


Scotland

All Equipment


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

103487 22157 132 464 128 3

N/A 21% 0.59% 2% 0.57% 0.01%


32


150


54.55


5

20




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 13690 4050 76 63 10 0

LFMMS

314

100

19

7

2

0

Weighbridges

953

826

11

85

44

1

NAWIs ≤30kg

15930

3803

13

216

39

1

NAWIs >30kg <5t

2121

644

5

52

4

0

AWIs

342

139

8

2

1

0

ILMIs

70137

12595

0

39

28

1

Business

No. of businesses


No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited


No of business you assisted into compliance

Estimated cost saving to the

business



20

14

11

11

0


978

421

544

422

81

360

Retail Outlet

33661

4970

4491

3822

645

95000

Medical premises

699

167

117

42

N/A

N/A

21


North East

All Equipment


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

93680 6049 52 75 94 10

N/A 6% 0.86% 1% 1% 0.16%


12


61


12.35


5

22




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 5541 1409 33 17 7 1

LFMMS

32

9

0

0

0

0

Weighbridges

506

206

8

28

10

9

NAWIs ≤30kg

8035

811

1

11

14

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

2099

538

9

17

51

0

AWIs

92

21

0

0

0

0

ILMIs

77375

3061

0

2

12

0

Business

No. of businesses


No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited


No of business you assisted into

compliance

Estimated cost saving to the

business

Packaging plants 274 32 67 54 1


16

9

2

2

0


745

105

133

93

19

Retail Outlet

12821

1774

961

640

150

Medical premises

341

51

47

23

N/A

N/A

23


North West

All Equipment


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

332018 23745 2073 349 163 0

N/A 7% 8% 1% 0.68% 0%


23

No. of authorities participating in S70

23

No. of Inspectors of W&M’s

112


20.77


3

24




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 14364 4375 26 40 37 0

LFMMS

119

42

9

6

1

0

Weighbridges

960

422

28

38

25

0

NAWIs ≤30kg

17168

2456

1183

176

4

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

2990

532

27

28

27

0

AWIs

500

71

22

3

0

0

ILMIs

295917

15847

778

58

69

0

Business No. of

businesses liable to

inspection

No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited


No of business

you assisted

into compliance

Estimated cost saving to business



175

78

25

22

8


819

250

229

185

76

Retail Outlet

33275

9818

1643

1112

258

1000

Medical premises

570

243

45

10

N/A

N/A

25


East Midlands

All Equipment


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

65733 2305 103 50 6 0

N/A 3% 4% 2% 0.2% 0%


10


10


72


9.13


2

26




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 6385 174 27 0 2 0

LFMMS

262

0

0

0

0

0

Weighbridges

527

132

6

13

3

0

NAWIs ≤30kg

13818

579

4

22

1

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

1283

56

8

3

0

0

AWIs

226

6

58

0

0

0

ILMIs

43232

1358

0

12

0

0

Business No. of

businesses liable to

inspection

No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited

No. of business

es compliant





277

12

15

15

1


753

157

30

27

2

Retail Outlet

31936

7380

843

782

10

45000

Medical premises

314

36

44

44

N/A

N/A

27


West Midlands

All Equipment


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

134231 2978 239 62 18 1

N/A 2% 8% 2% .60% 0.03%


14


14


91


20.55


1

28




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 6847 337 107 4 4 0

LFMMS

141

9

2

1

0

0

Weighbridges

539

146

18

12

9

1

NAWIs ≤30kg

9203

553

21

31

1

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

1283

258

76

9

4

0

AWIs

223

14

15

1

0

0

ILMIs

115995

1661

0

4

0

0

Business

No. of businesses liable

to inspection

No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited






191

18

15

13

2


1671

143

62

60

2

Retail Outlet

22283

3335

584

502

43

Medical premises

270

3

4

0

N/A

N/A

29


Yorkshire & Humberside

All Equipment


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

230626 5081 2258 247 139 0

N/A 2% 48% 5% 2% 0%


11


10


80


14.13


2

30




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 13975 1101 52 30 13 0

LFMMS

146

0

219

17

0

0

Weighbridges

1108

328

56

43

33

0

NAWIs ≤30kg

25543

749

47

44

5

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

4115

637

55

95

81

0

AWIs

939

22

21

0

0

0

ILMIs

184800

2244

2008

18

7

0

Business

No. of businesses


No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited


No of business you assisted

into compliance




206

63

35

33

4


1125

332

350

324

54

Retail Outlet

27224

3702

1460

1420

114

Medical premises

272

81

137

76

N/A

N/A

31


South East

All Equipment


19


19


126


15.66


9


No. inspected

No. verified No. found incorrect 28 days’ notice

issued


mark removed


cautions

114138 5946 313 160 19 0

N/A 5% 5% 2% 0.31% 0%

32




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 18402 889 74 23 6 0

LFMMS

226

38

3

2

2

0

Weighbridges

785

187

12

17

2

0

NAWIs ≤30kg

22621

1070

71

59

3

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

4713

523

145

36

5

0

AWIs

122

11

0

0

0

0

ILMIs

67269

3228

8

23

1

0

Business

No. of businesses


No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited


No of business you assisted

into compliance




326

93

41

37

4


1467

287

168

132

13

Retail Outlet

36443

6698

2767

1341

188

Medical premises

244

71

21

2

N/A

N/A

33


South West

All Equipment


15


15


104


42.54


10


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

94693 8181 226 226 50 0

N/A 8% 3% 3% 0.61% 0%

34




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 9038 1349 95 45 7 0

LFMMS

192

60

23

10

2

0

Weighbridges

843

202

7

20

13

0

NAWIs ≤30kg

14812

505

14

18

6

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

2495

99

76

11

6

0

AWIs

180

19

1

0

0

0

ILMIs

67133

5947

10

122

16

0

Business

No. of businesses


No. of businesses due

this year

No. of businesses

visited


No of business you assisted into

compliance




597

54

5

5

2

5000


2206

243

221

180

33

20000

Retail Outlet

45962

4802

1003

621

251

72000

Medical premises

160

4802

0

N/A

N/A

35


East England

All Equipment


11


11


64


18.15


2


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

66065 881 225 52 14 0

N/A 1% 25% 6% 1.5% 0%

36




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 14464 112 67 3 1 0

LFMMS

388

78

26

20

0

0

Weighbridges

995

113

25

3

7

0

NAWIs ≤30kg

9933

330

67

17

2

0

NAWIs >30kg <5t

2140

25

35

6

2

0

AWIs

384

43

5

3

2

0

ILMIs

37761

180

0

0

0

0

Business

No. of businesses


No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited






169

100

39

7

0


1014

175

41

34

2

Retail Outlet

47940

10900

422

119

35

16000

Medical premises

510

123

17

0

N/A

N/A

37


London

All Equipment


33


33


78


26.53


8


No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

216922 4933 20 154 58 38

N/A 2% 0.40% 3.12% 1.18% 0.77%

38




No. inspected


issued


mark removed


cautions

LFMIs 10021 1691 6 130 4 0

LFMMS

10

0

0

0

0

0

Weighbridges

284

49

1

8

3

0

NAWIs ≤30kg

15135

977

4

91

13

1

NAWIs >30kg <5t

1086

160

9

14

1

37

AWIs

168

20

0

0

0

0

ILMIs

190218

2036

0

11

37

0

Business

No. of businesses


No. of businesses

due this year

No. of businesses

visited


No of business

you assisted

into compliance




310

83

43

38

10

5000


990

85

54

54

2

Retail Outlet

38556

2308

975

835

122

835

Medical premises

910

244

37

27

N/A

N/A

39


Chapter 8

The Risk Matrix As a result of the data collected from section 70 returns 2014/15, the weights and measure Risk Matrix 2015 has been reviewed, updated and reissued. By consolidating all of the data the following categories have been plotted in accordance with this year’s results; Medical weighing equipment, LFMIs, LFTMMS, weighbridges, NAWIs ≤30kg, NAWIs >30kg <5t, AWIs, ILMIs. Those instruments that have been removed from the return form have also been removed from the risk matrix. We have added to the risk matrix by taking other considerations into account when rating equipment on the risk matrix, these include economic and political values as well as other issues such as fuel poverty. As well as a risk matrix there is now a table to evidence why each piece of equipment has been given its position on the risk matrix and we hope this will be of further assistance when justifying where to direct resources. The four business types included in the measuring metrological compliance in transactions part of the form have also been plotted in accordance with this year’s results ; packaging plants, importers of packaged goods, those selling bulk products by weight or volume and retail outlets. Items which have changed category; Non-automatic weighing instruments over 30kg but less than 5 tonnes has moved from possible risk of failure low risk impact to likely risk of failure with low risk impact. Non-automatic weighing instruments less than 30kg has moved from unlikely to fail with high risk impact to possible failure with high risk impact. Medical weighing equipment has been added as a new category rated as very likely to fail with very high impact risk. Packaging Plants have moved from likely failure with high risk of impact to possible failure with high risk of impact.

40


Impact of Risk ↓

←Potential for failure→

Very likely

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Very unlikely

Very high

Medical Weighing Equipment Weighbridges and scales ≥5000kg

Liquid fuel tanker meter measuring systems (LFTMMS)

Liquid fuel measuring instruments (LFMIs)

High Retail Outlets

Non-automatic weighing instruments ≤30 kg Packaging plants & Importers of packaged goods & Bulk products by weight or volume

Low

Non-automatic weighing instruments >30 kilograms but <5 tonnes

Automatic weighing instruments

Intoxicating liquor measuring instruments

Very low

41


Risk Matrix 2015

Justification of position on Risk Matrix

Equipment type

Failure rate

Economic Value Political factors Other Issues Position on Matrix

Medical Weighing equipment

15% Political embarrassment if widespread inaccuracies were discovered.

Possible threat to life if used to prescribe doses of medication or anaesthetic.

Very likely to fail with very high impact of failure

Weighbridges & Scales greater than 500kg

16% High value of scrap metal. i5.6 Billion to UK economy Identified as giving the largest detriment to both consumers & business

High cost of hiring testing unit makes this equipment vulnerable to neglect

iiImportance to public increases when linked to road safety.

Very likely to fail with very high impact of failure

Liquid Fuel Tanker Meter Measuring systems

10% High value product Fuel Poverty. Product cannot be seen by consumer.

Likely to fail with very high impact of failure.

Liquid Fuel Dispensers

2% High value & High volume product. iii45 Billion to UK economy

Value to UK economy would cause political embarrassment if found to be not accurate.

Product cannot be seen by consumer.

Unlikely to fail with very high impact of failure.

Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments more than 30kg but less than 5 tonnes

11% Possible failure with low impact of failure

Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments less than 30kg

6% High Volume Unlikely to fail with high impact of failure

Automatic Weighing Instruments

3% Possible failure with low impact of failure

Intoxicating Liquor

1% Very unlikely to fail with low

42


Measuring Instruments

impact of failure

Recommendations

1. To maintain the risk based approach to weights and measures inspections, NMRO will promote the findings of the section 70 report, the risk matrix and these recommendations to all local authorities.

2. To promote a reduction in the rate of non-compliance resulting in improved consumer protection and fair competition between businesses in the future.

3. To encourage LWMAs to take part in authority, regional and national metrology projects and to submit the results to the NMRO.

4. To co-ordinate national projects that target the highest risk rated equipment and encourage competence in these areas.

5. To ensure the Section 70 Report is available to NTSB Intelligence Hub in order to provide a Metrology feed into the Strategic Assessment.

6. A letter to the CEO of those authorities not submitting a Section 70 return will be sent to remind them of their legal obligation.

43


Chapter 9 Projects This chapter examines National projects that have been carried out for 2014/15. We recognise that in the current climate of stretched and reduced resources a large amount of Metrology work carried out is done so as projects. Therefore we aim to produce a brief outline of the projects carried out and the results.

Previous Projects 2014/15 In previous years NMRO co-ordinated two projects, the Medical Weighing Project which was recommended by the expert panel, and an AWI project which was a market surveillance project.

The medical weighing project has been completed and the final report can be viewed by following the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/enforcement-of-the-weights-and-measures-act-1985#national-

metrology-projects

Current Projects 2015/17

We are currently co-ordinating the verification project; focusing on Approved verification activity within the

Weighbridge, Petrol Pump & Bulk Fuel industries. Due to the large scope of this project it will be run over two

years, 2015/16 – 2016/17.

Information on how to participate and training opportunities can found by following the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/enforcement-of-the-weights-and-measures-act-1985

Future Projects 2016/17

Following the analysis of the section 70 returns 2014/15 the new project for 2016/17 will be a continuation of

the current verification project.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/enforcement-of-the-weights-and-measures-act-1985#national-metrology-projects

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/enforcement-of-the-weights-and-measures-act-1985#national-metrology-projects

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/enforcement-of-the-weights-and-measures-act-1985

44


Chapter 10 Other Stakeholders NMRO aims to ensure that all Stakeholders have an input into our police’s and activities, to this end we have developed various ways for identified stakeholders to input into NMRO:-

1. Trading Standards or anyone else can raise concerns they have through [email protected], this input has had a considerable influence on the National Project chosen for 2015/17

2. Local Authorities complete and submit a Section 70 Return which is in turn used to compile the Risk Matrix contained within the Section 70 Report

3. NMRO ensures Trading Standards National Intelligence Hub has access to the Section 70 Report including the Risk Matrix to input into their annual strategic Assessment and subsequent control strategy

4. NMRO has access to Consumer Direct Central Database 5. NMRO actively participates in European and International metrology via WELMEC and OIML.

mailto:[email protected]

45


Annex A Local Authority Section 70 Participation

Aberdeen City Derby Isle of Wight Pembrokshire Sutton Aberdeenshire Derbyshire Islington Perthshire & Kinross Swansea Angus Devon Kensington & Chelsea Peterborough Swindon Argyll & Bute Doncaster Kent Plymouth Tameside

Barking & Dagenham Dorset Kingston upon Thames Poole Telford Barnet Dudley Knowsley Portsmouth Thurrock Barnsley Dumfries & Galloway Lambeth Powys Torbay Bath & NE Somerset Dundee Lancashire Reading Torfaen Bedford Durham Leicester City Redbridge Tower Hamlets Bexley Ealing Leicestershire Redcar & Cleveland Trafford Birmingham East Ayrshire Lewisham Renfrewshire Vale of Glamorgan Blackburn East Dunbartonshire Lincolnshire Rhondda Cyon Taff Walsall Blackpool East Lothian Liverpool Richmond Waltham Forest Blaenau Gwent East Renfrewshire Luton Rochdale Wandsworth Bolton East Riding Manchester Rotherham Warrington Bournemouth East Sussex Medway Rutland Warwickshire Bracknell Forest Edinburgh Merthyr Tydfil Salford West Berkshire Brent & Harrow Enfield Merton Sandwell West Dunbartonshire Bridgend Essex Middlesbrough Scottish Borders West Lothian Brighton & Hove Falkirk Midlothian Sefton West Sussex Bristol Fife Milton Keynes Sheffield West Yorkshire Bromley Flintshire Monmouthshire Shetland Westminster Buckinghamshire Gateshead Moray Shropshire Wigan Bury Glasgow Neath Port Talbot Slough Wiltshire Caerphilly Gloucestershire Newcastle upon Tyne Solihull Windsor &

Maidenhead

Cambridgeshire Greenwich Newham Somerset Wirral Camden Gwynedd Newport South Ayrshire Wokingham Cardiff Hackney Norfolk South Gloucestershire Wolverhampton Carmarthenshire Halton North Ayrshire South Lanarkshire Worcestershire Ceredigion Hammersmith & Fulham North East Lincolnshire South Tyneside Wrexham Central Bedfordshire Hampshire North Lanarkshire Southampton York Cheshire East Haringey North Lincolnshire Southend

Cheshire West & Chester Hartlepool North Somerset Southwark

City of London Havering North Tyneside St Helens

Comhairle Nan Eiean Siar

Herefordshire North Yorkshire Staffordshire

Conway Hertfordshire Northampton & Northamptonshire

Stirling & Clackmannanshire

Cornwall Highland Northumberland Stockport

Coventry Hillingdon Nottingham City Stockton on Tees

46


Croydon Hounslow Nottinghamshire Stoke

Cumbria Hull Oldham Suffolk

Darlington Inverclyde Orkney Sunderland

Denbighshire Isle of Anglesey Oxfordshire Surrey

47

i British Metals Recycling Association

ii 2006 Measuring Up report National consumerCouncil. iii Forecourt Equipment Federation

National Measurement Office

Contacts

Address: National Measurement & Regulation Office Stanton Avenue Teddington Middlesex TW11 0JZ General Enquiry Line: +44 (0)20 8943 7272 Email: [email protected] Website: www.gov.uk/nmro

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