The DTI study on modernizing Weights and Measures enforcement is now drawing to a close. Dudley Guest, the Project Manager has just circulated his draft report and subject to final comments it will be published in September.
The Report highlights the lack of consistency in metrology enforcement across the UK. The key to consistency is, in the words of the Report, Communication, Co-ordination and Co-operation, and the report makes a number of wide ranging Recommendations to improve these aspects. In dealing with the weighing industry the Report recommends:
that at - National level, a working party be established under the direction of the central organisation to examine the potential for closer co-operation between trading standards and trade and business organisations, with a remit to report and recommend before the end of 2007.
Regional level, metrology groups should include in their work programs for 2006/07 project and other work to test and progress ways of achieving closer working with the trade and alternative methods of business inspection.
Local level, current examples and methods of co-operation should be more fully documented and reported to their regional chairs for onward reporting to the national working party.
In many ways the Report complements the Hampton Report which was recently adopted by the Government. Hampton recommended the establishment of a Consumer and Trading Standards Agency, comprising of the NWML, the consumer activities of OFT, The British Hallmarking Council and the Hearing Aid Council, and the Chancellor stated in his Budget speech that the Agency would be set up and working by 2009. Many of the functions of that Agency are foreseen in the Recommendations of the Modernising Metrology Report and hopefully the new Agency will be the vehicle for their adoption.
We unfortunately do not have time to circulate the draft Report before the closing date for comments on 28th July, but if you wish to add anything to any earlier comments you made please e-mail Dudley Guest at . We will of course be submitting a Federation view on the draft Report. | 
