Weights and Measures (Patterns of Instruments) Regulations

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STATUTORY RULES

1965 No. 147

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (NATIONAL STANDARDS) ACT 1960-1964.*

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 1960-1964.

Dated this fifteenth day of October, 1965

CASEY

Governor-General

By His Excellencys Command,

Minister of State for Works, for and on behalf of the Prime Minister

 

Weights and Measures (Patterns of Instruments) Regulations

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Weights and Measures (Patterns of Instruments) Regulations.

Commencement.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the first day of January 1966.

Definition.

3. In these Regulations, the Act means the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1964.

Commission may appoint Departments or other persons to carry out certain functions.

4.—(1.) The Commission may appoint a department of State of the Commonwealth, a body corporate established by an Act or any other person—

(a) to carry out examinations;

(b) to give approvals; and

(c) to issue certificates,

under these Regulations on its behalf.

(2.) Where the Commission has made an appointment under the last preceding sub-regulation, the department of State, body corporate or other person, as the case may be, may exercise the powers and functions of the Commission under these Regulations.

Commission may examine patterns.

5.—(1.) The Commission may examine patterns of instruments intended for use for trade.

(2.) An application for the examination of a pattern of an instrument under the last preceding sub-regulation shall be accompanied by—

(a) detailed drawings and specifications in respect of the instrument; and

 

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 21 October, 1965

9371/64.—Price 9d. (8c) 10/9.9.1965


(b) if the Commission so requires, a sample of the whole or part of the instrument described in the pattern in respect of which examination is sought.

Approval.

6.—(1.) The Commission may, after examination, grant its approval in writing that the pattern of an instrument is suitable for use for trade.

(2.) An approval granted under the last preceding sub-regulation may be unconditional or subject to such conditions as are specified in the written approval.

Commission to give reasons for refusal to approve.

7. Where the Commission has been requested to examine or approve a pattern of an instrument and—

(a) has refused to do so; or

(b) has not granted approval within three months after the date on which an application that complies with these Regulations was made.

the Commission shall, if the applicant asks it in writing to do so, inform the applicant of the reasons for the refusal or for the failure to grant approval.

Commission may refuse to conduct examinations.

8. The Commission may refuse to examine a pattern of an instrument if, in the opinion of the Commission, the examination would involve a risk of damage to persons or property.

Certificates of approval.

9.—(1.) Where an approval has been granted by the Commission, a department of State of the Commonwealth, a body corporate or other person, under regulation 6 of these Regulations, the Commission, the department of State, body corporate or other person, as the case may be, shall issue or cause to be issued, a certificate under this regulation in respect of the approval to the person who requested the examination and to such other persons as it thinks fit.

(2.) A certificate issued under the last preceding sub-regulation shall be signed—

(a) in the case of an approval granted by the Commission—by a person authorized in writing by the Commission to sign certificates under this regulation;

(b) in the case of an approval granted by a department of State of the Commonwealth—by a person authorized in writing by the permanent head of the department to sign certificates under this regulation;

(c) in the case of an approval granted by a body corporate established by an Act—by a person authorized in writing by the body corporate to sign certificates under this regulation; or

(d) in any other case—by the person who granted the approval.

(3.) There shall be specified in a certificate issued under sub-regulation (1.) of this Regulation—

(a) a description of the pattern of the instrument to which it relates;

(b) the number of the certificate;

(c) the date on which it was issued;

(d) the conditions (if any) subject to which the approval was granted; and

(e) that the pattern of the instrument has been approved under these Regulations as suitable for use for trade.


(4.) A certificate issued under this regulation is evidence of the facts stated in it.

(5.) A document purporting to be such a certificate—

(a) shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be a certificate signed by a person authorized in accordance with sub-regulation (2.) of this regulation to sign it; and

(b) may be received in evidence in any court (whether exercising federal jurisdiction or not) or in proceedings before a person authorized by a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory or by consent of parties to hear, receive and examine evidence.

Re-examination of approved patterns.

10. Where—

(a) a pattern of an instrument has been approved under these Regulations; and

(b) the officer responsible for the administration of weights and measures legislation of a State or Territory furnishes to the Commission information to the effect that instruments constructed in accordance with the pattern have been found in use for trade to be unsuitable for that purpose,

the Commission shall, at the request of that officer, re-examine the pattern in the light of the information that has been furnished.

Transitional.

11. The provisions of these Regulations do not apply to the exclusion of a law of a State or Territory in so far as such a law applies to the approval of patterns of instruments, application for which had been made under such a law before the date on which these Regulations came into operation but had not been granted or refused immediately before that date, and such an application may be continued and completed as if these Regulations had not been made.

 

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

Overview

The Weights and Measures (Patterns of Instruments) Regulations 1965 were introduced to provide a consistent national standard for the examination and approval of patterns of measuring instruments intended for trade. Enacted under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1964, these regulations were established to ensure that measuring instruments used in trade meet national standards, thereby facilitating fair trade practices and protecting consumers from substandard or inaccurate measurements. The regulations empower the Commission to appoint various entities to carry out the necessary examinations, issue approvals, and certificates, while also setting out the process for re-examination of patterns that may have been found unsuitable for trade following their initial approval. This ensures that any issues with measuring instruments can be identified and rectified promptly, maintaining the integrity of trade practices across Australia.

Scope and Application

The Weights and Measures (Patterns of Instruments) Regulations, enacted under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1964, apply to patterns of instruments intended for use in trade across the Commonwealth of Australia. The Regulations establish a framework for the examination, approval, and certification of these instruments, ensuring they meet national standards suitable for trade. The Commission under the Act has the authority to appoint departments, bodies corporate, or other persons to carry out examinations, issue approvals, and certificates. These Regulations empower the Commission to refuse examinations if they pose a risk to persons or property. Additionally, the Regulations provide for the issuance of certificates of approval, which serve as evidence of the suitability of the instruments for trade. The Regulations also include provisions for the re-examination of approved patterns if they are found to be unsuitable for trade. Notably, the Regulations do not apply to applications made under state or territory laws before their commencement, allowing such applications to proceed as if the Regulations had not been made.

Key Provisions

The Weights and Measures (Patterns of Instruments) Regulations (1965) provide a framework for the examination, approval, and certification of patterns of instruments intended for use in trade. According to Regulation 4, the Commission is empowered to delegate to departments of State, bodies corporate, or other persons the authority to carry out examinations, provide approvals, and issue certificates. These entities can exercise the Commission's powers and functions under these Regulations when so appointed. The Commission may examine patterns of instruments as per Regulation 5, requiring detailed drawings and specifications, and potentially a sample of the instrument. Following an examination, the Commission can grant an approval in writing that the pattern is suitable for use in trade, which may be unconditional or subject to specific conditions as stated in Regulation 6. If an application for examination or approval is refused or not processed within three months, the Commission must provide reasons to the applicant upon request, as stipulated in Regulation 7. Entities that have been granted approval must issue certificates of approval as per Regulation 9. These certificates must include a description of the approved pattern, the certificate number, the issue date, any conditions attached to the approval, and a statement confirming the pattern's suitability for trade. Certificates are legally recognized as evidence of the stated facts and can be used in court or other legal proceedings. In cases where instruments based on an approved pattern are found to be unsuitable for trade, the Commission is required to re-examine the pattern upon request from the relevant officer, as outlined in Regulation 10. The Regulations also include provisions for transitional arrangements, allowing for the continuation and completion of applications made under State or Territory laws before the Regulations came into effect, as detailed in Regulation 11. These Regulations set out the obligations and processes for ensuring that instruments used in trade meet the required standards, and they outline the consequences for non-compliance, though specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences are not explicitly detailed within these Regulations.

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