1. What is the purpose of this regulation?
The Weights and Measures Regulations set the rules for measuring devices (e.g., gas pumps, retail and commercial scales, petroleum refinery meters) used in measurement based financial transactions.
2. What are the key elements of this regulation?
The Regulations set the design, performance, installation and use requirements for devices used in measurement-based financial transactions in Canada.
The Regulations also set the requirements for the evaluation, approval and inspection of measuring devices used in Canada.
3. How does this regulation affect Canadian businesses?
The Regulations protect Canadian businesses and consumers against loss due to inaccurate measurement by establishing minimum levels of accuracy and performance to which devices used in measurement-based financial transactions must comply.
Device owners who do not meet the requirements of the Regulations may be subject to increasingly stringent enforcement actions, including administrative monetary penalties.
4. What is the timeline for implementation?
The Regulations and their enabling act have been in existence since shortly before Confederation. The Regulations have been amended to include administrative monetary penalties as an additional compliance improvement tool. The amendments were registered on June 4, 2014 and came into force on August 1, 2014.
5. Who enforces these regulations?
Measurement Canada has sole jurisdiction to enforce the Weights and Measures Regulations.
6. Who certifies the accuracy of measuring devices?
Measurement Canada evaluates prototype gas pumps, scales and other measuring devices for compliance with regulatory requirements. Devices found in compliance are approved for use in measurement-based financial transactions in Canada. Measurement Canada inspectors and authorized service providers authorized by Measurement Canada certify the accuracy of measuring devices.
7. Where can I get more information?
More information can be found on Measurement Canada's website. The following pages will be of particular interest measuring device stakeholders: