V-27—Content and suggested format for retail printed receipts

Date: 2005-07-01
Bulletin: V-27
Category: Volume
Document(s): W&M Regulations, section 129; SVM-1 section 27; SVM-2 section 14


Table of contents


1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this bulletin is to outline Measurement Canada's requirements regarding the content and suggested formats for retail receipts printed by cash registers, consoles or Point of Sale (POS) systems which are interfaced to retail fuel dispensers or high speed refuellers.

2.0 Scope

This bulletin applies only to printing devices directly interfaced with volumetric devices.

A device which provides a printed receipt that is separate and not interfaced to the measuring system (dispenser, console, card reader, etc.) does not have to comply with the printing requirements of section 129 of the Weights and Measures Regulations or section 27 of Ministerial Specification SVM-1.

3.0 Background

Cashier consoles are no longer evaluated by the Approval Services Laboratory (ASL). In the past, the ASL only evaluated a console if it had the ability to change the unit price on the dispenser. The console, if it has printing capabilities should be evaluated in the field for agreement with the primary means of registration on the device and receipt content during a regular inspection.

Retail cash registers, consoles and the more common, POS systems that produce printed receipts and are interfaced to a measuring system used for delivering retail automotive fuels are required to provide specific information as prescribed in section 129 of the Weights and Measures Regulations or section 27 of Ministerial Specification SVM-1 and, where appropriate, SVM-2 section 14. However, these sections do not specify the format in which the information should be presented in order to ensure that it is clear and understandable to all parties to the transaction. Consequently, this has created uniformity problems for both MC and industry alike.

4.0 Definition

All words and expressions used in this bulletin have the same meaning as in other Weights and Measures legislation.

5.0 Printed ticket requirements

5.1 Volume corrected to 15° C

For retail applications with automatic temperature correction and where the customer normally views the transaction, the statement "volume corrected to 15°C" is not required on the receipt/ticket if the primary register is so marked.

5.2 Cash registers, consoles and POS systems

Retail Cash registers, consoles or POS systems that produce printed receipts and are interfaced to a measuring system used for delivering retail automotive fuels, are required to provide specific information as prescribed in section 129 of the Weights and Measures Regulations or section 27 of Ministerial Specification SVM-1 and where appropriate SVM-2 section 14.

5.3 Acceptable retail sales receipt format

The following information table and examples of sample receipts in 5.4 are included to illustrate acceptable formats for a retail sales receipt.

Table 1—Acceptable formats of information provided on retail sales receipts
Meter Assembly Description Quantity and Unit of Measure Price per Unit of Measure Totals
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
Meter Number Quantity Unit At Money Symbol Amount Per Unit of Measure Money Symbol Price
Regular Pump 7 83.6 L @ $ or ¢ 0.759 or 75.9 / L $ 63.45

Generic Product name may be used but metering assembly must be identified if there is more than one assembly delivering the same product.

Must meet the minimum number of digits and not more than the value of minimum increment of registration as required by SVM 1:20 or as appropriate and in accordance to Bulletin V-7

"Litre" or its symbol "L", "l","l

In order to avoid confusion with the number one, the "L" is preferred in Canada.

Upper or lower case may be used.

A "@" or "at" ("a" in French) should be used to separate the quantity and unit of measure from the price per unit of measure.

Optional if this is clearly identified in a titled column format.

(See sample receipts para 5.4)

If using the "$" symbol:

Should be placed before the value in column VI.

If using the "¢" symbol:

Should be placed after the value in column VI.

If using the "$" symbol:

Should be two digits after the decimal point; should be preceded by a zero before the decimal point when the value is less than one.

If using the "¢" symbol:

Should be two digits before the decimal and at least one digit after the decimal.

A period or comma may be used as the decimal.

a " / " or " Per" ("par" in French) should be used to separate the price from the units.

"Litre" or its symbol "L", "l","l".

In order to avoid confusion with the number one, the "L" is preferred in Canada.

Upper or lower case may be used.

Required if there is only one space between columns VIII and IX

Optional if there are two or more spaces between column VIII and IX.

Can be placed before or after the value in column X.

Required on the summate values of column X

Should be two digits after the decimal point.

Should be preceded by a zero, before the decimal point, if the value is less than one.

A period or comma may be used as the decimal.

May be placed before or after the value in column X

Note: In addition to the information and acceptable formats illustrated above, every receipt must include: the name and address of the trader and address, if different, where the metering assemblies are installed, as well as the date on which the transaction occurred.

5.4 Example of sales receipts

Figure 1: Example of sales receipts

Example of Sales Receipts (the long description is located below the image)
Description of Figure 1

Three examples of acceptable formats for sales receipts used in retail gas stations.

In the first example, the product name and meter number, quantity and unit of measure as well as the price per unit of measure and total price appear in a single row. The total price appears below and is preceded by the label "Total".

In the second example, the product name and meter number, quantity and unit of measure as well as the price per unit of measure and total price appear in columns labelled "Product", "Litres", "Price/L" and "Amount". The total price also appears below and is preceded by the label "Total".

In the third example, the product name and meter number, quantity and unit of measure as well as the price per unit of measure and total price appear in rows labelled "Pump No.", "Product", "Litres", "Price/Litre" and "Total Fuel".

Each sample receipt also contains the name and address of the trader as well as the date of the transaction.