Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations (Amendment)

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STATUTORY RULES

1968 No. 150

REGULATIONS UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (NATIONAL STANDARDS) ACT 1960-1966.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966.

Dated this twenty-ninth day of November, 1968.

CASEY

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Sgd. Malcolm Fraser

Minister of State for Education and Science.

Amendments of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations†

The second and the mean solar second.

1. Regulation 25 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“ (1.) The second is the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium—133 atom.”.

Units of measurement of electrical conductance.

2. Regulation 58 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended—

(a) by inserting in sub regulation (1.), after the word “ siemens,”, the words “the millisiemens,”;

(b) by inserting in sub-regulation (1.), after the words “ the mho”, the words “, the millimho”; and

(c) by inserting in sub-regulation (2.), before the word “ and ”, the words “, the millisiemens may be referred to by the abbreviation ‘mS’ ”.

The siemens, mho, &c.

3. Regulation 59 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by inserting after sub-regulation (1.) the following sub-regulation:—

(1a.) The millisiemens or the millimho is 0.001 siemens.”.

Temperature scales.

4. Regulation 65 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulations (5.) and (6.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-regulations:—

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1968.

† Statutory Rules 1961, No. 142, as amended by Statutory Rules 1963, No. 126; 1964, No. 146; and 1965, No. 13.

16350/67—Price 10c 10/28.10.68


 “ (5.) Temperatures and temperature intervals on the International Practical Temperature Scale, the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale and the Rankine Temperature Scale may be referred to by the symbols ‘ °C ’, ‘ °F ’ and ‘ °R ’, respectively.

“ (6.) Temperatures and temperature intervals on the Kelvin Temperature Scale may be referred to by the symbols ‘ °K ’ or ‘ K ’.

“ (7.) Temperature intervals on the International Practical Temperature Scale, the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale, the Kelvin Temperature Scale and the Rankine Temperature Scale may, in addition to the manner in which those intervals may be referred to by virtue of the last two preceding sub-regulations, be referred to by the abbreviations ‘ degC ’, ‘ degF ’, ‘ degK ’ and ‘ degR ’, respectively.”.

5. Regulation 67 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

The candela.

“ 67. The candela is the luminous intensity in the perpendicular direction of a surface of 1/600,000th of one square metre of a full radiator at the temperature of solidification of platinum under a pressure of 101,325 newtons per square metre.”.

Verification, &c., of standards of measurement referred to in section 8 of the Act.

6. Regulation 78a of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (3.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“ (3.) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the last preceding sub-regulation, the accuracy of the standard of measurement shall be ascertained and expressed in a manner authorized by a determination of the Organization for the purposes of this regulation or, if more than one manner is authorized in such a determination, in one of the manners so authorized.”.

Verification, &c., of standards of measurement to which section 9 of the Act applies.

7. Regulation 79 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (3.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“ (3.) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the last preceding sub-regulation, the accuracy of the standard of measurement shall be ascertained and expressed in a manner authorized by a determination of the Organization for the purposes of this regulation or, if more than one manner is authorized in such a determination, in one of the manners so authorized.”.

Verification, &c., of standards of measurement as subsidiary standards.

8. Regulation 80 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended—

(a) by inserting in sub-regulation (3.), after the word “Organization” (second occurring), the words “ or an officer or employee of the Organization authorized by the Organization in writing for the purposes of this sub-regulation ”;

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (4.) the words “ directs for the purposes of this sub-regulation ” and inserting in their stead the words “ or a person authorized by the Commission in writing for the purposes of this sub-regulation directs ”;

(c) by omitting from sub-regulation (5.) the words “ for the purposes of ” and inserting in their stead the words “, or a person authorized by the Commission, under ”;

(d) by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (6.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“ (b) if the verification or reverification is carried out by, or under the supervision of, a verifying authority not being a body corporate—

(i) the verifying authority; or

(ii) if the Commission empowers the verifying authority to authorize in writing a person or persons to sign and issue certificates under this regulation, a person so authorized,”;

(e) by omitting paragraph (e) of sub-regulation (7.);

(f) by omitting sub-regulation (8.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“ (8.) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the last preceding sub-regulation, the accuracy of the standard of measurement shall be ascertained and expressed in a manner authorized by a determination of the Commission for the purposes of this regulation or, if more than one manner is authorized in such a determination, in one of the manners so authorized.”;

(g) by inserting in sub-regulation (9.), after the word “ manner ”, the words “ or manners ”; and

(h) by adding at the end of sub-regulation (10.) the words “ that have been appointed verifying authorities in relation to a standard of measurement to which the determination relates ”.

Certificates as evidence.

9. Regulation 80a of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—

“ (3.) A certificate purporting to be a certificate under this Part or a document purporting to be a document cancelling a certificate under this Part shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been signed and issued by the person by whom it purports to have been signed and issued and, unless the contrary is proved, the person by whom it purports to have been signed and issued shall be deemed to be a person authorized by, or in pursuance of, this Part to sign and issue the certificate or document.”.

10. Regulations 81 and 82 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations are repealed and the following regulations inserted in their stead:—

Cancelling of certificates.

“ 81.—(1.) A certificate issued under regulation 78a or regulation 79 of these Regulations may be cancelled at any time by the Organization or by a person authorized in writing to do so by the Organization.

“ (2.) A certificate issued under regulation 80 of these Regulations may be cancelled at any time—

(a) in the case of a certificate issued by an officer or employee of the Organization—by the Organization or by a person authorized in writing to do so by the Organization; or

(b) in the case of a certificate issued by a verifying authority, an officer or employee of a verifying authority or a person empowered by a verifying authority under paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (6.) of regulation 80 of these Regulations to sign and issue certificates—

(i) by the Commission;

(ii) by the verifying authority; or

(iii) by a person authorized in writing by the Commission to cancel a certificate of such a kind.


(3.) Where a certificate is cancelled in pursuance of this regulation, the body or person cancelling the certificate shall sign and issue a document stating that the certificate has been cancelled or, if the certificate is in the possession of the body or person, endorse on it the word ‘ Cancelled ’ and the date of cancellation.

Permissible variations in certain subsidiary standards of measurement— Twenty-fourth Schedule.

“ 82.—(1.) A subsidiary standard of measurement of a denomination referred to in the first column of the Twenty-fourth Schedule that on verification or reverification is found not to be greater or less than its denomination by an amount exceeding the amount of permissible variation specified in the second column of that Schedule opposite to the reference to its denomination in the first column shall be deemed to be of a value equal to its denomination unless the certificate issued under regulation 80 of these Regulations in respect of that verification or reverification states otherwise.

“ (2.) A subsidiary standard of measurement referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation shall not be deemed, in pursuance of that sub-regulation, to be of a value equal to its denomination unless the variation of the subsidiary standard of measurement from its denomination is determined to an accuracy that is equal to, or better than, one-third of the permissible variation relevant to that standard of measurement.

Permissible variations in certain subsidiary standards of measurement— Twenty-fifth Schedule.

“ 83.—(1.) A subsidiary standard of measurement of a denomination referred to in the first column of the Twenty-fifth Schedule that on verification or reverification is found not to be greater or less than its denomination by an amount exceeding the amount of permissible variation specified in the second column of that Schedule opposite to the reference to its denomination in the first column shall be deemed to be of a value equal to its denomination unless the certificate issued under regulation 80 of these Regulations in respect of that verification or reverification states otherwise.

“ (2.) A subsidiary standard of measurement referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation shall not be deemed, in pursuance of that sub-regulation, to be of a value equal to its denomination unless the variation of the subsidiary standard of measurement from its denomination is determined to an accuracy that is equal to, or better than, one-third of the permissible variation relevant to that standard of measurement provided that the variation is so determined to an accuracy that is not better than that set out in the third column of the Twenty-fifth Schedule opposite to the reference to the denomination of that standard of measurement in the first column of that Schedule.”.

Sixth Schedule.

11. The Sixth Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from the first column the words “ Peck ”, “ Reputed quart ” and “ Reputed pint ”; and

(b) by omitting from the second column the figures “ 2 ”, “ 1/6 ” and “ 1/12 ”.

Thirteenth Schedule.

12. The Thirteenth Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by inserting after the words—

“ British thermal unit ...........................

1 055.06

Btu ”

the words

“ Mega-electron-volt ...........................

1.602 07.10–13

MeV

Kilo-electron-volt ............................

1.602 07.10–16

keV

Electron-volt ...............................

1.602 07.10–19

eV ”,


Twenty-fourth Schedule.

13. The Twenty-fourth Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting Parts A and B and inserting in their stead the following Parts:—

“ A. Standards of Measurement of Length expressed in terms of the Metre or Units related to the Metre in the First Schedule.

 

Permissible variation in millimetres.

Denominations exceeding 32 metres ......

One-tenth of the denomination of the standard in metres

Denominations exceeding 15 metres but not exceeding 32 metres

Five-hundredths of the denomination of the standard in metres

Denominations exceeding 2 millimetres but not exceeding 15 metres

Two-tenths of the square root of the denomination of the standard in metres

Denominations not exceeding 2 millimetres

0.01

B. Standards of Measurement of Length expressed in terms of the Yard or Units related to the Yard in the First Schedule.

 

Permissible variation in Inches.

Denominations exceeding 35 yards .......

Four-thousandths of the denomination of the standard in yards

Denominations exceeding 50 feet but not exceeding 35 yards

Two-thousandths of the denomination of the standard in yards

Denominations exceeding 0.07 inches but not exceeding 50 feet

Five-thousandths of the square root of the denomination of the standard in feet

Denominations not exceeding 0.07 inches

0.0004 ”;

(b) by inserting after the word “ Weight ” in the heading to Part C the words “, that are not constructed of iron,”;

(c) by omitting from Part C the word “ milligrams ” and inserting in its stead the word “ milligrammes ”;

(d) by inserting in the heading to Part D after the word “ Weight ” the words “, that are not constructed of iron,”; and

(e) by adding at the end thereof the following Parts:—

“ L. Standards of Measurement of Area expressed in terms of the Square Metre or Units related to the Square Metre in the Second Schedule.

 

Permissible variation in square metres.

Denominations exceeding 0.6 square metre

Three-thousandths of the denomination of the standard in square metres

Denominations not exceeding 0.6 square metre

0.0018

M. Standards of Measurement of Area expressed in terms of the Square Yard or Units related to the Square Yard in the Second Schedule.

 

Permissible variation in square feet.

Denominations exceeding 6 square feet

Three-thousandths of the denomination of the standard in square feet

Denominations not exceeding 6 square feet

0.018 ”.


Twenty-fifth Schedule.

14. The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations are amended by adding at the end thereof the following Schedule:—

“ TWENTY-FIFTH SCHEDULE Regulation 83.

PERMISSIBLE VARIATION UPON VERIFICATION OR REVERIFICATION OF CERTAIN SUBSIDIARY STANDARDS OF MEASUREMENT THAT ARE CONSTRUCTED OF IRON

First Column

Second Column

Third Column

Denomination of Standard

Permissible variation

Limit of accuracy of verification

A. Standards of Measurement of Mass and Weight that are constructed of Iron and expressed in terms of the Kilogramme or Units related to the Kilogramme in the Third Schedule

 

Permissible variation in grammes

Limit of accuracy of verification in grammes

Denominations exceeding 25 kilogrammes

Seven-hundredths of the denomination of the standard in kilogrammes

Seven-thousandths of the denomination of the standard in kilogrammes

Denominations exceeding 1 kilogramme but not exceeding 25 kilogrammes

Thirty-five-hundredths of the square root of the denomination of the standard in kilogrammes

Thirty-five-thousandths of the square root of the denomination of the standard in kilogrammes

B. Standards of Measurement of Mass and Weight that are constructed of iron and expressed in terms of the Pound or Units related to the Pound in the Third Schedule

 

Permissible variation in drams

Limit of accuracy of verification in drams

Denominations exceeding 50 pounds

Eighteen-thousandths of the denomination of the standard in pounds

Eighteen-tenthousandths of the denomination of the standard in pounds

Denominations exceeding 2 pounds but not exceeding 50 pounds

Thirteen-hundredths of the square root of the denomination of the standard in pounds

Thirteen-thousandths of the square root of the denomination of the standard in pounds”.

By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra

Overview

The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations 1968 were enacted to implement and provide the necessary details for the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966. These Regulations were made under the authority of the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The problem or gap these Regulations address include ensuring that measurements are accurate and consistent across Australia, aligning with international standards and practices, and providing a legal framework for the verification and certification of measurement standards. The policy objective of these Regulations is to maintain a national standard of measurement that is reliable, uniform, and in line with global standards, thereby facilitating trade, commerce, and scientific research.

Scope and Application

The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations, as amended, govern the standardization of measurement units across Australia, ensuring consistency and accuracy in various industries and sectors. These Regulations apply to all individuals and entities involved in the production, sale, and use of measurement standards within Australia. The application extends to all industries that rely on standardized measurements, including manufacturing, retail, and scientific research, among others. The Regulations establish definitions and permissible variations for various units of measurement, such as the second, electrical conductance, and temperature scales, and mandate the use of international standards where applicable. Geographic reach is nationwide, with the Commonwealth government overseeing the implementation and enforcement of these standards. There are no specific exclusions noted within the text; however, certain standards may be exempt from certain verification requirements under specific circumstances. The Regulations also allow for further specification and modification through subordinate instruments, enabling the inclusion of new units or adjustments to permissible variations as needed. These Regulations are integral to maintaining fair trade practices and ensuring consumer protection across Australia.

Key Provisions

The operative sections of these Regulations provide definitions and standards for various units of measurement, including the second, electrical conductance units, and temperature scales. For example, Regulation 2 amends the definition of the second to be based on the periods of radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of the caesium-133 atom (reg. 2(1)). Regulation 5 further amends the units of electrical conductance to include the millisiemens and the millimho, with the latter being equivalent to 0.001 siemens (reg. 5(1a)). Temperature scales are also defined, allowing the use of various symbols and abbreviations for temperatures and temperature intervals (reg. 4). These Regulations establish specific obligations for entities that use these units of measurement, requiring them to adhere to the defined standards and use the approved symbols and abbreviations. For instance, entities must use the candela as the standard for luminous intensity (reg. 6) and ensure that their measurement standards are verified and expressed with the required accuracy (regs. 78a, 79, 80). Certificates of verification and reverification must be signed and issued by authorized persons (reg. 80a). Breach of these Regulations can lead to various consequences, including the cancellation of certificates that do not comply with the standards (regs. 81, 82). Additionally, there may be civil or criminal penalties for the misuse of measurement standards, although the specific penalties are not detailed in these Regulations. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966 can be found in the principal Act and may include fines and imprisonment.

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