With the Lunar New Year around the corner, people are crowding traditional markets and Lunar New Year Fairs to purchase fresh produce for a nine-day vacation, one of the three most important family-gathering events in Taiwan. The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) launched a nationwide inspection project to monitor the accuracy of weighing scales used for commercial transactions. The result showed a compliance rate of 99.9%.

9,362 scales used at 222 food retailing spots (traditional markets and Lunar New Year Fairs) located in different cities around the nation were inspected. 9,359 of them passed inspection and 3 failed. The reasons of failure include the readings not falling within the tolerance (2 scales, consumers suffering losses), the verification mark being indiscernible (1 scale). "Suspended" labels have been affixed to the scales that failed the inspection. These scales are subject to follow-up monitoring until they are scrapped or repaired and pass verification. Vendors will be fined with an amount at NT$15,000~ NT$75,000 in accordance with the "Weights and Measures Act" if they continue using failed scales. 

The BSMI indicated that it would keep monitoring the accuracy of weighing scales used for commercial transaction by carrying out year-round inspection projects.It also encourages consumers to report to the BSMI or its branches by calling 02-23434567 (representative line) when they find weighing scales used for the transactions do not bear the verification mark "(Picture as attachment file)" or when they are suspicious about their accuracy.An investigation of reported cases will be performed to safeguard the interests of both the sellers and buyers.

Responsible Division: 7th Division

Contact Person: Chen, Horng-Lin, Deputy Director, 7th Division

Telephone No.: +886-2343-4585

Email: hl.chen@bsmi.gov.tw