STATUTORY RULES
1973 No. 68
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 twentieth day of March, 1973.
Paul Hasluck
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. L. MORRISON
Minister of State for Science.
Amendments of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations†
Units of measurement of temperature.
1. Regulation 64 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the word “ Kelvins ” and substituting the word “ kelvins ”.
Second Schedule.
2. The Second Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting the words—
“ Are ....................... | 100 ................ | a |
Centiare .................... | 1 ................ | ca ”. |
Third Schedule.
3. The Third Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting the words—
“ Quintal ..................... | 100 | q |
Myriagramme ................ | 10 | Myriagram |
Kilogramme ................. | 1 | kg or kilogram |
Hectogramme ................ | 0.1 | Hectogram |
Dekagramme ................. | 0.01 | Dekagram |
Gramme .................... | 0.001 | g or gram |
Decigramme ................. | 0.000 1 | dg or decigram |
Centigramme ................. | 0.000 01 | cg or centigram |
Milligramme ................. | 0.000 001 | mg or milligram |
Microgramme................. | 0.000 000 001 | µg or γ or microgram ” |
* Notified in the. Commonwealth Gazette on 1973.
† Statutory Rules 1961, No. 142, as amended by Statutory Rules 1963, No. 126; 1964, No. 146; 1965, No. 13; 1968, No. 150; 1970, No. 40; and 1972, Nos. 62, 133 and 160.
22732/72—Price 5c 9/16.2.1973
and substituting the words—
“ Kilogram or kilogramme .. | 1 | kg |
Hectogram or hectogramme .. | 0.1 | .. |
Dekagram or Dekagramme .. | 0.01 | .. |
Gram or gramme .. .. | 0.001 | g |
Decigram or decigramme .. | 0.000 1 | dg |
Centigram or centigramme .. | 0.000 01 | cg |
Milligram or milligramme .. | 0.000 001 | mg |
Microgram or microgramme .. | 0.000 000 001 | µg ”. |
Tenth Schedule.
4. The Tenth Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting “ or mps ” (in the third column);
(b) by omitting “ or cmps ” (in the third column); and
(c) by omitting “ kmph ” (in the third column) and substituting “ km/h ”.
Thirteenth Schedule.
5. The Thirteenth Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting the words “ British Thermal Unit ” (in the first column) and substituting the words “ British thermal unit ”; and
(b) by omitting the words “ Foot pound force ” (in the first column) and substituting the words “ Foot pound-force ”.
Fifteenth Schedule.
6. The Fifteenth Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting “ M Pa ” and “ k Pa ” (in the third column) and substituting “ MPa ” and “ kPa ” respectively.
Twentieth Schedule.
7. The Twentieth Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by omitting the words—
“ Micromicrofarad or picofarad ...... | 0.000 000 000 001 | µµF or pF ” |
and substituting the words—
“ Picofarad.................... | 0.000 000 000 001 | pF ”, |
Printed by Authority by the Government Printer of the Commonwealth of Australia
Overview
The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations 1973, enacted by the Governor-General in Council under the authority of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966, serve to amend existing national standards for weights and measures in Australia. This legislative instrument was introduced to ensure the accuracy and uniformity of measurements across the country, addressing any discrepancies or outdated standards in the previous regulations. The objective is to align Australia's measurement standards with international practices and to provide clarity in the use of units of measurement. The regulations, as amended, cover various schedules including units of temperature, mass, speed, energy, pressure, and electrical capacitance, reflecting a commitment to precision and consistency in measurement practices.
Scope and Application
The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations, 1973, apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, regulating the use of measurement standards to ensure consistency and accuracy in commercial transactions. These regulations, made under the authority of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966, govern the units of measurement and their equivalences used by all persons and entities within the country, including businesses, manufacturers, and traders. The Regulations cover a range of units across various measurement categories, such as mass, speed, energy, pressure, and electrical capacity, ensuring that these units are uniformly applied nationwide. The amendments to these Regulations, as detailed in the Statutory Rules 1973 No. 68, focus primarily on the standardisation of terminology and units, such as changing "Kelvins" to "kelvins" and updating various metric conversions. These changes aim to harmonise the terminology used in measurement with international standards, thereby facilitating trade and commerce both domestically and internationally. The Regulations are enforced through subordinate instruments, which may further specify the application and implementation details of the standards set forth in the main body of the legislation.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of these Regulations include amendments to the existing Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations (1960-1966). These amendments primarily focus on updating and correcting terminology and units of measurement to ensure consistency and accuracy. For instance, Regulation 64 modifies the unit of temperature measurement from "Kelvins" to "kelvins" (s.1). The Second Schedule updates the definitions of area measurements, removing the term "centiare" and replacing it with "centiare" (s.2). The Third Schedule revises the definitions of weight measurements, such as replacing "Quintal" with "Kilogram or kilogramme" and providing new metric conversions (s.3). Other schedules address changes in speed, energy, pressure, and electrical capacitance units (ss.4-7).
These Regulations impose obligations on entities and individuals to comply with the updated and corrected units of measurement as set forth in the amended schedules. Businesses and manufacturers, in particular, must ensure that their products and services adhere to these updated standards to avoid discrepancies in measurement and compliance issues. This includes updating product labels, packaging, and any relevant documentation to reflect the new standards.
Failure to comply with these Regulations can result in various consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument itself, the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966 provides a framework for enforcement. Breaches of these standards can lead to civil actions for damages or penalties, as well as criminal charges in cases of wilful or repeated non-compliance. The severity of the penalties can vary, with potential fines and imprisonment depending on the nature and extent of the breach. Therefore, it is essential for entities governed by these Regulations to ensure full compliance to avoid any legal repercussions.