Vol. 151, No. 4 — February 22, 2017

Registration

SOR/2017-17 February 13, 2017

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT

Regulations Amending the Weights and Measures Regulations (Miscellaneous Program)

P.C. 2017-112 February 13, 2017

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Industry, pursuant to paragraphs 10(1)(i) (see footnote a) and (v) of the Weights and Measures Act (see footnote b), makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Weights and Measures Regulations (Miscellaneous Program).

Regulations Amending the Weights and Measures Regulations (Miscellaneous Program)

Amendments

1 Paragraph 81(a) of the Weights and Measures Regulations (see footnote 1) is replaced by the following:

2 (1) The definition electronic machine in section 150 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

electronic machine means a machine, other than a continuous totalizing weighing machine, that operates with electronic components and is equipped with a digital means of indication. (appareil électronique)

(2) Section 150 of the Regulations is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

electronic computing machine means an electronic machine that calculates the monetary value equal to the product of the weight indication multiplied by the unit price. (appareil calculateur électronique)

3 The portion of section 153 of the Regulations before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

153 The registration of monetary value calculated by an electronic computing machine is to be rounded to the nearest cent as follows:

4 (1) Subsection 154(1) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

154 (1) La fonction tare d’un appareil électronique fonctionne uniquement en mode négatif par rapport à zéro.

(2) Subsection 154(6) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(6) La fonction tare d’un appareil calculateur électronique doit s’annuler automatiquement de sorte que, lorsqu’un poids net est ajouté à la tare, le total est calculé et lorsque le poids brut est enlevé de l’appareil, l’indication pondérale revient à zéro conformément à l’article 183, à moins que l’appareil ne soit en mode préemballage.

5 Subsection 170(1) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

170 (1) Un appareil électronique, autre qu’un appareil calculateur électronique, ne doit ni enregistrer ni imprimer de valeur lorsque la charge excède 105 pour cent de la portée nominale de l’appareil.

6 (1) Subsection 172(1) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

172 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (6), the value of the minimum increment of registration on a machine shall not be greater than 10 kg, if the machine measures in kilograms, or 20 pounds, if the machine measures in pounds, unless the capacity of the machine exceeds 100 000 kg or 200,000 pounds, in which case the value of the minimum increment of registration shall not be greater than 20 kg or 50 pounds, respectively.

(2) Subsections 172(2) to (7) of the French version of the Regulations are amended by replacing “échelon du dispositif enregistreur” with “échelon d’enregistrement”.

7 Subsection 179(3) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(3) L’indication pondérale à zéro ou près de zéro d’un appareil électronique ne doit pas varier de plus de la valeur du plus petit échelon d’enregistrement de l’appareil pour une différence de température ambiante de 5 °C.

8 Section 181 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

181 When a machine that is equipped with a self-indicating or semi-self-indicating means of registration is tested by one of the following methods, the acceptance limits of error and in-service limits of error are 1.5 times the limits of error set out in the tables to sections 176 and 177 and set out in sections 188 and 192:

9 Subsection 182(1) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

182 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) and sections 188 and 192, the minimum limit of error when a machine is tested for acceptance limits of error or in-service limits of error is a weight equivalent to the lesser of 0.05 per cent at the capacity of the machine and one minimum increment of registration.

10 Section 184 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

184 Subject to subsection 182(3), if a machine has digital increments of registration, the acceptance limits of error and in-service limits of error applicable to the digital registrations of the machine shall be increased beyond the limits of error otherwise applicable to the digital registrations of the machine by the equivalent of one-half the minimum increment of registration.

11 Section 192 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

192 When a crane scale is used in the weighing of freight to determine freight or shipping charges, the acceptance limit of error and in-service limit of error are 0.5 per cent of the known test load, but not less than 0.125 per cent of the capacity of the scale.

12 Section 196 of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

196 La mobilité d’un appareil muni d’un dispositif indicateur à équilibre automatique ou semi-automatique de type analogique ou numérique doit être telle que, lors de la vérification du respect de la marge de tolérance à l’acceptation ou de la marge de tolérance en service de l’appareil, à n’importe quelle charge allant de zéro à la portée maximale, le fait d’ajouter à l’élément qui reçoit la charge, ou d’en enlever, un poids correspondant à 1,4 fois la valeur du plus petit échelon d’enregistrement de l’appareil provoque une variation de la valeur indiquée au moins égale à la valeur du plus petit échelon d’enregistrement de l’appareil.

13 The portion of item 1 in the table to section 218 of the French version of the Regulations in column V is replaced by the following:

Article

Marge de tolérance en service

Colonne V

Au-dessus de la longueur enregistrée

1

13 mm plus ½ % de la longueur connue

14 The headings of columns II to V of the table to section 219 of the French version of the Regulations are replaced by “Au-dessous de la longueur enregistrée”, “Au-dessus de la longueur enregistrée”, “Au-dessous de la longueur enregistrée” and “Au-dessus de la longueur enregistrée”, respectively.

15 Section 224 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

224 When a machine is tested in relation to a relevant local standard for either acceptance limits of error or in-service limits of error by measurement of a known area on a surface that is representative of the kind of material for which the machine is designed, the machine is within both the acceptance limit of error and the in-service limit of error in respect of that area and that kind of material if the area registered does not differ from the known area by more than 0.006 square metres or 1.5 per cent of the known area, whichever is greater, and, in the case of a machine measuring in Canadian units of measurement, 1/16 square foot or 1.5 per cent of the known area, whichever is greater.

16 Subsection 266(4) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(4) The acceptance limits of error and in-service limits of error set out in the tables to subsections (2) and (3) apply to known test quantities equal to or greater than that delivered by the meter in one minute at the maximum operating rate.

17 Subsection 267(4) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(4) The acceptance limits of error and in-service limits of error set out in the tables to subsections (2) and (3) apply to known test quantities equal to or greater than that delivered by the meter in one minute at maximum operating rate.

18 (1) Subparagraph 351(6)(a)(i) of the Regulations is repealed.

(2) Section 351 of the Regulations is amended by adding the following after subsection (6):

(7) The date of payment is the day on which it is sent.

19 Subsections 352(1) and (2) of the Regulations are replaced by the following:

352 (1) A request under paragraph 22.12(2)(a) or (b) of the Act shall be made, as set out in the notice, by submitting the following information in writing to a Measurement Canada office in person, by registered mail or courier or by electronic means within 30 days after the day on which the person is provided with the notice of violation:

20 The French version of the Regulations is amended by replacing “échelon du dispositif enregistreur” and “échelon du dispositif indicateur” with “échelon d’enregistrement de l’appareil” in the following provisions:

Coming into Force

21 These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issues

The Weights and Measures Act and Regulations govern legal units of measurement, the use of approved and examined weighing and measuring machines which meet established technical requirements, and the accurate measurement of products and services traded on the basis of measure.

This initiative consists of amending the Weights and Measures Regulations (the Regulations). The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (the Committee) reviewed the Regulations and identified inconsistencies between the English and French versions of the Regulations, following amendments made to the specifications related to automatic weighing machines in March 2012 (SOR/2012-28). These specifications appear in Division VI, Part V of the Regulations. The Committee also identified ambiguities resulting from the addition of the administrative monetary penalties to the Regulations in May 2014 (SOR/2014-112). These ambiguities appear in Part VIII of the Regulations.

Objectives

The purpose of the minor amendments is to address concerns raised by the Committee, to correct inconsistencies between the English and French versions of the Regulations and to clarify certain sections.

Description

Amendments made to sections of the specifications eliminate a redundancy from the definition of an electronic machine. Furthermore, a definition for electronic computing machine is being added to make the specifications more coherent. Subsection 172(1) is restructured to eliminate any possible confusion associated with using both the International System of Units and the Canadian units of measurement.

Other editorial amendments eliminate inconsistencies between the two versions of the regulatory specifications. Similar editorial amendments were made to sections 181, 192 and 224 and subsections 266(4) and 267(4) to ensure consistent use of defined terms.

A modification was made to section 351 to exclude regular mail as a means to submit an administrative monetary penalty payment to Measurement Canada. The change is made because the mailing date is required in the administration of monetary penalties and postmarks on regular mail may not include this information. In section 352, the text was modified to specify that the notice of violation number on the compliance agreement or review request is the one provided in the notice of violation. In the same section, a clarification was made to better set out the prescribed manner as including the information to be submitted, how it can be submitted and within what period.

In addition to the minor amendments above, typographical errors are corrected in sections 218 and 219 of the French version and paragraph 81(a) was modified to align with similar wording used in the Regulations.

Consultation

These amendments do not alter the intent of the Regulations or impose new restrictions or burdens on individuals or industry. Within this context, no external consultation on the substance of these amendments has been carried out because these amendments do not alter the intent of the Regulations or impose new restrictions or burdens on the general public or any party subject to the measures set out in the Regulations.

“One-for-One” Rule

The “One-for-One” Rule does not apply to these Regulations, as there is no change in administrative costs to business.

Small business lens

The small business lens does not apply to these Regulations, as the proposed amendments are not expected to increase costs or regulatory burden on small business.

Rationale

These amendments to the Regulations are in response to recommendations made by the Committee. They will improve the accuracy and consistency between the English and French versions of the Regulations and clarify certain sections.

Contact

Carl Cotton
Vice-President
Measurement Canada
Telephone: 613-941-8918
Email: carl.cotton@canada.ca