Our enforcement role

The Legal Metrology Service (LMS) is responsible for enforcement of two main texts of legislation:
 

The legislation establishing LMS—the Metrology Act, 1996—updated centuries of weights and measures law. It also provided LMS inspectors with the powers to inspect trading premises and test instruments or goods for compliance with the two Acts.

The legal framework also takes account of European legislation on measuring instruments and units of measurement.
 

 
 

The requirements and obligations set out in the two Acts provide significant protections for consumers and help to ensure fair trading conditions for businesses.

The legislation also provides for the imposition of substantial penalties on persons or businesses found guilty of offences.
 

 

Our approach to enforcement is to promote voluntary compliance where possible. Should this approach be unsuccessful, we take further action. This may ultimately include prosecution to ensure that the protections and aims of the Metrology Act, 1996, and the Packaged Goods (Quantity Control) Act, 1980, are met.

Measuring instruments and measuring processes are used in many sales transactions. However, the value of goods and services traded can vary widely, depending upon unit costs, volume of trade, etc. This in turn means that inaccurate measurements have different impacts across different trading environments. Our current enforcement strategy focuses on those areas which are potentially the most detrimental to consumers and society. 

 

As part of our enforcement role we pay particular attention to matters brought to our notice by members of the public. Where possible, we investigate alleged breaches.

If you wish to make a complaint concerning a short measurement or another issue relating to our work, please fill in a complaints form , providing as much information as possible.

You can also make a complaint by telephone, fax or ordinary mail, providing the same information as requested on the electronic form.

Our contact details are:

Legal Metrology Service,
NSAI,
1 Swift Square,
Northwood,
Santry,
Dublin 9, Ireland

T: +353 (0)1 807 3800
F: +353 (0)1 807 3808
E: legmet@nsai.ie

Please note that in the interest of fairness, anonymous complaints cannot be accepted.

 

 

 

Where breaches of the Acts are committed, the following sanctions are available:
 

If a trader disagrees with a decision taken by an LMS inspector or an Authorized Verifier in relation to a measuring instrument, they can make an appeal in writing to the Director of Legal Metrology.

 

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Marks are applied to measuring instruments at different stages in their life cycle.  Most measurement instruments will be marked with CE markings, and or Irish official marks.  For more on markings see official marks.
 

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Any person aggrieved by the performance of any operation in connection with a trade measuring instrument by a LMS inspector or an Authorized Verifier can make an appeal to the Director to have the decision reviewed.

The appeal must be made in writing within seven days, and should be sent to:

Mr Patrick Farragher
Director of Legal Metrology

NSAI,
1 Swift Square,
Northwood,
Santry,
Dublin 9, Ireland

The information should be specific, explaining the precise way in which the LMS inspector or the Authorized Verifier is claimed to have misapplied any regulatory provision or misperformed or misinterpreted any testing operation.

Having carried out an investigation, the Director may reject or allow the appeal.

Under certain circumstances, the Director’s decision may be subject to judicial review. However, if you are considering judicial review, you are strongly advised to seek legal advice to confirm that this remedy is applicable to your case.
 

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