Simple terms explainer

Local authorities must maintain and use approved reference standards for weighing and measuring. These include local and working standards, which are calibrated against national measurement standards to ensure their accuracy. Trading Standards officers use these standards to test and verify weighing and measuring equipment used by businesses, such as shop scales and fuel pumps. By maintaining this system of traceable standards, local authorities ensure that measurements used in trade are accurate, consistent, and legally compliant, helping to protect consumers and support fair trading