Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Weights and Measures Regulations 1963 (“the 1963 Regulations”) and the Weights and Measures (Local and Working Standard Capacity Measures and Testing Equipment) Regulations 1990 (“the 1990 Regulations”).

Amendments made to the 1963 Regulations exempt, from the requirements of those Regulations relating to the construction, testing and use as capacity measures, containers which have previously contained a cosmetic product and are supplied by the customer to the retailer for use in retail transactions in the same cosmetic product.

The 1963 Regulations are also amended so as to prescribe, and provide limits of error for, certain thimble measures of 35 millilitres for serving spirits (gin, rum, vodka and whisky). The 1990 Regulations are amended to similar effect so as to provide for local and working standard capacity measures of 35 millilitres.

The amendments which make provision for a 35 millilitre measure and associated limits of error are related to the amendments made to the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and to the Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988 by the Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) (Amendment) Order 1994 which enable a 35 millilitre measure of spirits to be sold for consumption on licensed premises.