Accurately Calibrated Weighing Scales at Supermarkets and Grocery Stores

Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) what steps are taken to enforce the requirement that all supermarkets and grocery shops maintain accurately calibrated weighing machines at all times.

All weighing and measuring instruments that are used for trade purposes in Singapore have to be registered with SPRING Singapore (SPRING) and verified by authorised verifiers appointed under the Weights and Measures Regulations 2005. Only instruments that meet the relevant International Organization of Legal Metrology standards and pass verification checks to ensure that they provide accurate measurements are affixed with the weights and measures seals and accuracy labels. Each accuracy label is valid for one year. Traders are required to submit their instruments for re-verification before the validity period lapses.

SPRING and its appointed enforcement agency, Certis Cisco, conduct regular spot checks to ensure that traders comply with the verification requirements. In 2015, more than 8,000 instruments were covered by such checks. On average, spot checks are conducted at around 20 different locations every month, including wet markets, supermarkets, post offices and pawnshops. During festive seasons, SPRING steps up enforcement by checking the instruments used at festive bazaars.

Traders who are found with instruments that have lapsed validity period will be issued a notice to submit the instrument for verification within 14 days. Traders using non-verified instruments will also be asked to replace them with registered and verified instruments or send the non-verified instruments for verification. SPRING conducts follow-up checks on traders who have been issued notices to ensure compliance. Should any trader fail to comply with the notice, the trader may be penalised under the Weights and Measures Act. A trader who uses an instrument that does not have the weights and measures seal and accuracy label may be fined up to S$5,000 or face up to three months' imprisonment, or both. A trader who uses an instrument that has a lapsed accuracy label may be fined up to S$2,000.

Most traders use instruments that comply with the requirements under the Weights and Measures Act. From 2011 to 2015, there were seven infringement cases involving traders that used unregistered instruments. SPRING will continue to ensure that traders use registered instruments with weights and measures seals and valid accuracy labels, and will take action against those that do not comply. SPRING conducts regular outreach and educational activities to raise traders and consumers’ awareness of the requirements under the Weights and Measures legislation. This includes partnering trade associations and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).