Through the Weights and Measures Programme, Enterprise Singapore aims to protect consumers and traders by regulating weighing and measuring instruments used for trade, and the net content of prepackaged products. This assures consumers of the measuring instruments’ accuracy (e.g. when buying fresh produce at the wet market or filling up at the petrol station) and that the quantity stated on the labels of prepackaged products accurately reflects their net content. All weighing and measuring instruments that have been verified accurate and fit for trade use carry the Weights and Measures seal and the ACCURACY Label.
To ensure a uniform and accurate system of weights and measures in Singapore, we:
The ACCURACY Label is attached on weighing and measuring instruments that are verified fit for trade use. A verification seal is also attached to prevent tampering of the instruments.
The label can be found on prominent areas of the weighing and measuring instruments. It has a verifier code and the period (month and year) when the verification was conducted. This helps consumers and traders to identify that the instruments were accurate at the time of verification. However, the label does not guarantee that the instruments will remain accurate after verification.
Weighing or measuring instruments used for trade in Singapore need to be registered with Enterprise Singapore and verified by an Authorised Verifier to ensure on instrument’s accuracy and fit for trade use. Examples of such instruments may be found in the Singapore Weights and Measures Programme information booklet.
Under the Weights and Measures Act, it is an offence to use unregistered and/or unverified instruments for trade in Singapore. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the instrument is verified, secured from tampering, and stamped with the Accuracy Label by an Authorised Verifier before using it for trade.
Traders should also ensure the use of the metric unit system of measurement when transacting or advertising goods. For example, Kilogram for goods measured by weight, and Litre for goods measured by volume.
More information on the Weights and Measures Programme can be found below:
Weighing or measuring instruments used for trade in Singapore need to have its pattern or type approved. Examples of such instruments may be found in the Singapore Weights and Measures Programme information booklet.
The pattern of a weighing and measuring instrument refers to the design of an instrument with all components affecting its measurement properties suitably specified. Such instruments must show proof that they have undergone various tests and are in compliance with the relevant international standards. This is to ensure that the instruments can maintain their accuracy under different climatic and operating conditions.
By registering the pattern of the weighing and measuring instrument, it ensures that no substandard design of weighing and measuring instruments for trade use are used in Singapore.
Under the Weights and Measures Act, qualified companies are allowed to carry out the verification and stamping of weighing and measuring instruments for trade use under the Authorised Verifier Scheme administered by Enterprise Singapore. The Recognised Testing Laboratory (Flowmeter) Scheme is also implemented to supplement the verification capability of flowmeters used for trade in Singapore. For more information on these schemes, refer to the links below.
It is an offence to supply or sell pre-packaged goods (PPGs) with net content less than the quantity stated on the package or label. Suppliers and/or retailers should have their own system or measures in place to ensure net content of the PPGs is as per stated on the package or label.
Suppliers and/or retailers should also ensure the net content of the pre-packaged good stated on the label is in the metric system of measurement. For example, Kilogram (kg) for measurement by weight.
The Average Quantity System (AQS) is an internationally recognised sampling method used by businesses to check that the pre-packaged goods they sell are accurately filled.
A sampled batch would fulfil the AQS if,
You may also contact us at consumerprotection@enterprisesg.gov.sg or (65) 1800 773 3163 for further enquiries.