The Department of Agriculture Consumer Services Division is charged with, but is not limited to, performing the following functions in connection with weights and measures on behalf of the citizens of the State:

1. (1) assuring that weights and measures in commercial service within the State are suitable for their intended use, properly installed, and accurate and are so maintained by their owner or user;
2. (2) preventing unfair or deceptive dealing by weight or measure in a commodity or service advertised, packaged, sold, or purchased within this State;
3. (3) making available to all users of physical standards or weighing and measuring equipment the precision calibration and related metrological certification capabilities of the weights and measures facilities of the division;
4. (4) promoting uniformity, to the extent practicable and desirable, between weights and measures requirements of this State and those of other states and federal agencies;

5. (5) encouraging desirable economic growth while protecting the consumer through the adoption by regulation of weights and measures requirements necessary to assure equity among buyers and sellers.

   The Department of Agriculture shall charge a fee of forty-five dollars an hour based on a fee schedule for all calibrations performed for private sector entities by the Metrology Laboratory authorized by subsection (3). Revenues generated by these fees shall be used by the department to offset expenses incurred in operating the Metrology Laboratory.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 501, Section 1, eff August 25, 1994; 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 7C, eff July 1, 2009.

Effect of Amendment

The 2008 amendment added the undesignated paragraph at the end relating to fees for calibrations performed for private sector entities.