Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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NATIONAL MEASUREMENT (PATTERNS OF MEASURING INSTRUMENTS) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1993 NO. 104

STATUTORY RULES 1993 No. 104

Issued by Authority of the Minister for Science and Small Business

National Measurement Act 1960

National Measurement (Patterns of Measuring Instruments) Regulations (Amendment)

Subregulation 6(1) of the National Measurement (Patterns of Measuring Instruments) Regulations (the Principal Regulations) provides for certificates to be issued in respect of patterns of specific measuring instruments after an examination of the pattern or measuring instrument has been made. There are, however, a number of types of simple measuring instruments (such as simple rulers, tapes, standard masses and beer glasses) for which this approach would be wasteful of resources. The National Standards Commission's approach in these cases is to issue a "General Certificate" that specifies in each case the metrological requirements for that type of measuring instrument. The State and Territory authorities then ensure that manufactured or imported measuring instruments comply with these certificates.

Another type of General Certificate is issued to deal with the myriad of variants to weighbridges, and like measuring instruments, required for particular installations. Once a manufacturer has obtained pattern approval for the design of a weighbridge he may construct variants according to the requirements of the general certificate without further reference to the National Standards Commission apart from having the design calculations checked.

Legal advice has indicated that these practices are not provided for in the Principal Regulations, as they only provide for certificates of approval to be issued after an examination of the pattern of a measuring instrument.

The National Measurement (Patterns of Measuring Instruments) Regulations (Amendment) (the amending Regulations) amends subregulation 6(1) of the Principal Regulations to enable the Commission to continue its present procedure, which it believes is the most efficient way to deal with the large numbers of simple measuring instruments and variants without imposing a large cost penalty on industry.