NATIONAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES WEEK
RECOGNIZES VITAL SERVICE TO THE ECONOMY

 

The global economy depends on a reliable, trustworthy system of weights and measures. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture regulates the Commonwealth’s system of weights and measures to serve businesses and consumers. The Department will join other weights and measures agencies throughout the country in celebrating National Weights and Measures Week March 1-7.

 

“Our Division of Regulation and Inspection provides an absolutely vital service to every Kentuckian,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “The division tests and calibrates commercial measuring devices to make sure we all get what we pay for, whether it’s a gallon of milk, five gallons of gasoline, a truckload of grain or anything else bought or sold in Kentucky.”

 

National Weights and Measures Week commemorates the anniversary of the date when President John Adams signed the first weights and measures law in the United States on March 2, 1799. The week was set aside to familiarize the public with this important service.

 

The Division of Regulation and Inspection checks the accuracy of gasoline pumps, commercial scales, meters, price scanners and published weights on retail and wholesale packages. The division’s metrology laboratories provide calibration services and technical guidance for private industry, scale and meter repair companies, other state agencies, and weights and measures inspectors within the division. The labs are recognized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The number of inspections carried out by division staff in 2006 included:

 

Motor fuel quality –406 samples approved, 34 failed, $6,521 in fines assessed

 

Gasoline pumps – 45,000 inspected, 3,000 rejected (required to be repaired or replaced but allowed to remain in use in the interim), 993 condemned (required to be repaired or replaced and taken out of service)

 

Scales (of all sizes, ranging from small grocery store scales to livestock and industrial scales) – 8,744 scales inspected, 8,234 approved, 325 rejected, 185 condemned

 

Price scanners – 104,000 items scanned, 1,210 overcharges, 771 undercharges, $1,850 in fines assessed

 

Package items (weighed in stores, such as deli items) – 173,808 packages weighed and approved, 21,550 packages ordered re-weighed

 

Package items packed in standard weights from the factory – 35,607 packages approved, 5,451 ordered re-weighed, $8,100 in fines assessed.