You might have noticed that the scale in your bathroom has “not for legal trade” stamped all over it, but what exactly does that mean? More importantly for you and your business, what is a Canadian legal for trade scale and do you need one?
Today’s article is going to explore this topic and help you determine if you need a legal for trade scale for your business.
What is a Legal for Trade Scale in Canada?
A legal for trade scale is a scale that has been certified by Measurement Canada to meet the stringent accuracy standards required to conduct business based on the weight of goods.
Not only does your legal for trade scale need to be certified, Canada’s Weights and Measures Act also requires that your scale be calibrated often to ensure its accuracy. There are hefty fines for scales that are outside of the allowed margin of error.
If you are unsure or need a refresh on best practices to calibrate your scale, be sure to check out the resources on our website.
Another reason regular calibration of your scale is so important is that it can be subject to periodic exams by Measurement Canada. Below are applicable sectors and frequency of exams:
• Wholesale trade of fishing products – 1 year
• Wholesale trade of dairy products – 2 years
• Retail food trade – 5 years
• Wholesale trade of grain and field crop products and services – 2 years
• Wholesale trade of mining products – 2 years
• Retail petroleum trade – 2 years
• Downstream petroleum trade – 2 years
• Trade of forestry products – 1 year
Measurement Canada is responsible for ensuring that consumers are offered fair and appropriate pricing based on accurate measurements. The department also fields any complaints and conducts investigations in addition to certifying scales legal for trade.
When is a Legal for Trade Scale RequiredCanada?
Determining if your company requires a legal for trade scale is pretty basic. If you are in a business or industry where you sell your goods by weight, then a regular scale will not cut it, you will require a legal for trade scale.
The Canada Weights and Measures Act legally requires that any business selling products by weight must use a legal for trade scale that has been approved and certified by an authorized service provider.
Legal for trade scales come in quite literally all shapes and sizes, from small tabletop scales used to measure lab materials up to truck weigh scales like the ones Active Scale is proud to manufacture.
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If you need your scale certified or would like to determine the best scale appropriate for your business, contact Active Scale at any time- we’re always happy to help.
