Trading Standards press statement - April 9th, 2001

The Trading Standards Institute has released the following statement:



The Sunderland ruling in the case of greengrocer Steven Thoburn has given the "green light" to Trading Standards professionals throughout the country to uphold the law on metric weights.

The Trading Standards Institute welcomed the result as a vindication of the action taken by Sunderland Council - and a clear signal to colleagues throughout the country.

"We are not the people who made this law - but our members are tasked with enforcing it," said Allan Charlesworth, Chief Executive of the Trading Standards Institute.

"The Sunderland decision confirms our belief that the European directive on weights and measures is legally binding - and that means our members are right to take action if the law is broken."

The European directive, which became law just over a year ago, says that shopkeepers' scales must weigh in metric quantities, although price indications can be displayed in both metric and imperial measures.

"Our main concern that the present situation has given rise to confusion," said Mr Charlesworth.

"Shoppers cannot easily compare prices per kilogram and prices per pound, both of which can be seen in our High Streets.

"Trading Standards professionals have tried their best to persuade traders to comply with the law on metric weights.

"Many traders have already gone to the expense of making the necessary changes to their equipment. It is totally unfair on them if other businesses are able to get away with breaching the law - and make political capital out of it at the same time.

"If people want to change this law they must take it up with the Government - but they should not blame the people whose job it is to uphold the regulations."