National Measurement Amendment Regulations 2004 (No. 1)1

Statutory Rules 2004 No. 1322

I, PHILIP MICHAEL JEFFERY, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the National Measurement Act 1960.

Dated 10 June 2004

P. M. JEFFERY

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command

WARREN ENTSCH

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources

Contents

 1 Name of Regulations 

 2 Commencement 

 3 Amendment of National Measurement Regulations 1999

Schedule 1 Amendments commencing on 1 July 2004 

Schedule 2 Amendments commencing on 1 July 2005 

1 Name of Regulations

  These Regulations are the National Measurement Amendment Regulations 2004 (No. 1).

2 Commencement

  These Regulations commence as follows:

 (a) on 1 July 2004 — regulations 1 to 3 and Schedule 1;

 (b) on 1 July 2005 — Schedule 2.

3 Amendment of National Measurement Regulations 1999

  Schedules 1 and 2 amend the National Measurement Regulations 1999.

Schedule 1 Amendments commencing on 1 July 2004

(regulation 3)

[1] Regulation 3, definition of permissible variation

substitute

maximum permissible uncertainty, for a standard of measurement, means the maximum uncertainty permitted in the verification of the standard under these Regulations.

maximum permissible variation, for a standard of measurement, means the maximum amount by which the standard may differ from the denomination indicated by the standard in these Regulations.

[2] Regulation 3, definition of standard reference conditions

omit

[3] Regulation 3, definition of verifying authority, paragraph (b)

omit

[4] Regulation 5, note

substitute

Note   The Chief Metrologist may issue written guidelines governing the way in which Australian legal units of measurement may be combined to produce an Australian legal unit of measurement — see Act, paragraph 7B (1) (a).

[5] Regulation 7, note

substitute

Note   The Chief Metrologist may issue written guidelines governing the way in which Australian legal units of measurement or a combination of Australian legal units of measurement may be combined with these prefixes to produce Australian legal units of measurement — see Act, paragraph 7B (1) (b).

[6] Subregulation 16 (3)

omit

13 (3)

insert

13 (4)

[7] Paragraph 18 (2) (e)

omit

range of

[8] Subregulation 18 (3)

omit

[9] Paragraph 19 (1) (f)

omit

range of

[10] Subregulations 20 (1) and (2)

substitute

 (1) The Chief Metrologist must send a copy of a determination made under subregulation 17 (2), 18 (4) or 19 (2) to each verifying authority appointed to verify standards of measurement to which the determination relates.

[11] Subregulation 20 (3)

omit

subregulation (1) or (2).

insert

subregulation (1).

[12] Regulation 21

substitute

21 Recognition of foreign reference standards of measurement

 (1) The Chief Metrologist may issue a written notice recognising a reference standard of measurement that is verified (however described) in a foreign country as a reference standard of measurement if:

 (a) the verified values of the standard of measurement are established by means of, by reference to, by comparison with or by derivation from the primary standards of measurement of the foreign country; and

 (b) appropriate comparability is established between:

 (i) the relevant primary standards of measurement of the foreign country; and

 (ii) one or more Australian primary standards of measurement.

 (2) A recognised reference standard of measurement is taken to be a verified reference standard of measurement.

 (3) A written notice issued under subregulation (1) in relation to a reference standard of measurement is taken to be a certificate issued under regulation 19 for the reference standard of measurement.

[13] Regulation 24

omit

[14] Regulation 25, heading

substitute

25 Accuracy of State secondary standards of measurement — maximum permissible uncertainty

[15] Regulation 26, heading

substitute

26 Accuracy of State tertiary standards of measurement — maximum permissible uncertainty

[16] Regulation 27, heading

substitute

27 Accuracy of Inspectors’ Class 1 standards of measurement — maximum permissible uncertainty

[17] Regulation 28, heading

substitute

28 Accuracy of Inspectors’ Class 2 standards of measurement — maximum permissible uncertainty

[18] Regulation 29, heading

substitute

29 Accuracy of Inspectors’ Class 3 standards of measurement — maximum permissible uncertainty

[19] Subregulation 39 (2)

omit

subregulation (3)

insert

subregulation (1)

[20] Subregulation 39 (3)

substitute

 (3) The Chief Metrologist must give a copy of a determination made under subregulation (1) to each certifying authority appointed in relation to a measuring instrument to which the determination applies.

[21] Subregulation 39 (4)

omit

subregulation (3).

insert

subregulation (1).

[22] Regulation 40

substitute

40 Recognition of foreign certification of measuring instruments

 (1) The Chief Metrologist may issue a written notice recognising a measuring instrument that has been certified (however described) in a foreign country as a certified measuring instrument if:

 (a) the certified values of the measuring instrument are established by means of, by reference to, by comparison with or by derivation from, the primary standards of measurement of the foreign country; and

 (b) appropriate comparability is established between:

 (i) the relevant primary standards of measurement of the foreign country; and

 (ii) one or more Australian primary standards of measurement.

 (2) A recognised measuring instrument is taken to be a certified measuring instrument.

 (3) A written notice issued under subregulation (1) in relation to a measuring instrument is taken to be a certificate issued under regulation 37 for the measuring instrument.

[23] Regulation 53

substitute

53 Recognition of foreign reference materials

 (1) The Chief Metrologist may issue a written notice recognising a reference material, or a reference material of a stated kind, that is certified (however described) in a foreign country as a certified reference material if:

 (a) the certified values of the reference material, or of reference materials of that kind, are established by means of, by reference to, by comparison with or by derivation from, the primary standards of measurement of the foreign country; and

 (b) appropriate comparability is established between:

 (i) the relevant primary standards of measurement of the foreign country; and

 (ii) one or more Australian primary standards of measurement.

 (2) A recognised reference material, or a recognised reference material of a stated kind, is taken to be a certified reference material.

 (3) A written notice issued under subregulation (1) in relation to a reference material, or a reference material of a stated kind, is taken to be a certificate issued under regulation 48 for the reference material or the reference material of that kind.

[24] Subregulation 60 (2)

omit

certifying

insert

approving

[25] After subregulation 60 (3)

insert

 (3A) The Chief Metrologist may issue a certificate of approval other than on application.

[26] Subregulation 61 (2)

omit

certifying

insert

approving

[27] After subregulation 61 (4)

insert

 (5) The Chief Metrologist may, other than on application, vary a certificate of approval issued by the Chief Metrologist.

[28] Regulation 68

substitute

68 Effect of variation and cancellation of approvals

  If an approved pattern is varied or cancelled under this Part or under Part 8, a measuring instrument manufactured in accordance with the pattern before the variation or cancellation has effect is taken to continue to be in accordance with a pattern approved under these Regulations.

[29] Subregulation 73 (1)

substitute

 (1) On application under regulation 72, the Chief Metrologist may appoint as a verifying or certifying authority an applicant who:

 (a) in the opinion of the Chief Metrologist, is capable, or has direct control of staff who are capable, of verifying a standard of measurement, or certifying a measuring instrument or reference material, to which the application relates; or

 (b) holds National Association of Testing Authorities accreditation that the Chief Metrologist considers appropriate to the functions mentioned in paragraph (a).

[30] Subregulation 79 (1)

substitute

 (1) The grounds for cancelling the appointment of an authority, other than on application, are as follows:

 (a) that the authority has not complied with a condition to which the appointment is subject;

 (b) that, in the opinion of the Chief Metrologist, the authority does not have the necessary or appropriate facilities or standards to perform the functions or duties to which the appointment relates;

 (c) that, in the opinion of the Chief Metrologist, the authority does not have the necessary competent staff to perform the functions or duties to which the appointment relates.

[31] Regulation 87

substitute

87 Exempt utility meters (Act s 3)

  For the definition of utility meter in subsection 3 (1) of the Act, the following classes of meters are exempted from the operation of Part VA of the Act:

 (a) gas meters;

 (b) electricity meters;

 (c) water meters installed before 1 July 2004;

 (d) water meters installed on or after 1 July 2004, other than cold water meters with:

 (i) a maximum continuous flow rate capacity of not more than 4 000 litres per hour; and

 (ii) maximum permissible errors mentioned in clause 13 of Division 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12.

Note   Meters with a maximum continuous flow rate capacity of not more than 4 000 litres per hour are normally, but not exclusively, used for metering water supply to domestic premises.

[32] Regulation 88A

omit

[33] After regulation 90

insert

90A Identity cards

  For subsection 18ZN (1) of the Act, an identity card issued to a person must set out the following information:

 (a) the person’s full name;

 (b) the name of the Commonwealth, State or Territory authority that employs the person or the name of the office that the person holds;

 (c) a statement that the person has been appointed by the Secretary as an authorised officer under section 18ZM of the Act;

 (d) a statement that the powers and obligations of an authorised officer are set out in Division 5 of Part VA of the Act;

 (e) the person’s signature;

 (f) the date of issue of the card;

 (g) the identity card number;

 (h) the expiry date of the identity card;

 (i) instructions for the return of a lost identity card if found.

90B Fees

 (1) For paragraph 20 (1) (l) of the Act, the fees for activities undertaken by the Commonwealth are set out in Schedule 13.

 (2) In Schedule 13, level 1 applies to the following kinds of measuring instruments:

 (a) simple liquor measures or dispensers;

 (b) class 3 and 4 weighing instruments 100 kg;

 (c) simple indicators or counters (for example, for weighing and flow);

 (d) driveway flowmeter fuel dispenser consoles (excluding computer-based systems);

 (e) pulse counters generators;

 (f) milk tanks;

 (g) vehicle and other tanks.

 (3) In Schedule 13, level 2 applies to the following kinds of measuring instruments:

 (a) multi-liquor measuring systems;

 (b) class 1 and 2 weighing instruments;

 (c) class 3 and 4 weighing instruments >100 kg;

 (d) load cells;

 (e) overhead-track weighing instruments;

 (f) driveway flowmeters fuel dispensers (except liquefied petroleum gas flowmeters and multiproduct pumps);

 (g) semi-automatic multi-dimensional measuring instruments;

 (h) tank level gauges (excluding volume conversion devices);

 (i) electronic flowmeter indicators or calculators;

 (j) indicators with conversion or linearisation functions;

 (k) milk meters;

 (l) computer operated consoles for fuel dispensers;

 (m) static wheel weighers;

 (n) length measuring instruments;

 (o) area measuring instruments;

 (p) mass flowmeters.

 (4) In Schedule 13, level 3 applies to the following kinds of measuring instruments:

 (a) milk metering systems;

 (b) belt weighers;

 (c) bulk flowmeters (including mass meters);

 (d) weighing-in-motion systems for trains and road vehicles;

 (e) catchweighers;

 (f) controllers and indicator calculators with conversion or linearisation functions;

 (g) totalising hopper weighers;

 (h) multi-product fuel dispensers and driveway and bulk flowmeters for liquefied petroleum gas;

 (i) automatic multi-dimensional measuring instruments.

[34] Regulation 93, heading

substitute

93 Transitional — 1 October 1999

[35] Subregulations 93 (1) and (2)

omit

[36] Subregulation 93 (4)

omit

An

insert

Subject to subregulation (4A), an

[37] After subregulation 93 (4)

insert

 (4A) An appointment mentioned in subregulation (4) expires:

 (a) if an expiry date is not specified in the instrument of appointment — on 1 July 2005; and

 (b) if an expiry date is specified in the instrument of appointment — on that date.

[38] After regulation 93

insert

94 Transitional — 1 July 2004

 (1) In this regulation:

certificate of approval includes a varied certificate of approval.

Commission means the National Standards Commission.

Organisation means the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation established under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949.

 (2) An instrument issued by the Commission under regulation 21, 40 or 53 before 1 July 2004 is taken to be a written notice issued by the Chief Metrologist under that regulation.

 (3) A determination that was made by the Commission or the Organisation under these Regulations and that was in force immediately before 1 July 2004 continues to have effect on and after that day as if it had been made by the Chief Metrologist under these Regulations.

 (4) A certificate of approval issued by the Commission under these Regulations before 1 July 2004 is taken to be issued by the Chief Metrologist under these Regulations.

 (5) A certificate issued under these Regulations before 1 July 2004 by the Commission or the Organisation acting in the capacity of a certifying authority is taken to be issued by the Chief Metrologist under these Regulations, subject to any condition stated in the certificate.

 (6) A certificate of verification issued under these Regulations before 1 July 2004 by the Commission or the Organisation acting in the capacity of a verifying authority is taken to be issued by the Chief Metrologist under these Regulations, for the period, if any, for which the certificate is given.

 (7) Subject to regulations 68 and 69, the cancellation, variation or withdrawal of an instrument by the Commission under Part 6 or 8 before 1 July 2004 is taken to be a cancellation, variation or withdrawal of the instrument by the Chief Metrologist under that Part.

 (8) An appointment made by the Commission under these Regulations before 1 July 2004 is taken to be an appointment by the Chief Metrologist under these Regulations.

[39] Schedule 1, Part 2, after item 2.20

insert

[40] Schedule 1, Part 3, items 3.13, 3.14 and 3.15

omit each mention of

interval

[41] Schedules 4 to 10

substitute

Schedule 4 Maximum permissible uncertainty — length (State primary and secondary standards)

(paragraphs 18 (5) (a) and 25 (a))

Schedule 5 Maximum permissible uncertainty — mass (State primary, secondary and tertiary standards)

(paragraphs 18 (5) (b) and (c), 25 (b) and 26 (a) and subparagraphs 25 (d) (i) and 26 (c) (i))

Schedule 6 Maximum permissible uncertainty — volume (State secondary and tertiary standards)

(paragraph 25 (c), subparagraph 25 (d) (ii),
paragraph 26 (b) and subparagraph 26 (c) (ii))

Schedule 7 Maximum permissible uncertainty and maximum permissible variation — length (Inspectors’ Class 1 and Class 2 standards)

(paragraphs 27 (a), 28 (a), 32 (a) and 33 (a))

Schedule 8 Maximum permissible uncertainty and maximum permissible variation — area (Inspectors’ Class 1 standards)

(paragraph 27 (b), subparagraph 27 (e) (i) and
regulation 32)

Schedule 9 Maximum permissible uncertainty and maximum permissible variation — mass (Inspectors’ Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 standards)

(paragraph 27 (c), subparagraph 27 (e) (ii),
paragraphs 28 (b) and (c) and regulations 29, 32, 33
and 34)

Schedule 10 Maximum permissible uncertainty and maximum permissible variation — volume (Inspectors’ Class 1 standards)

(paragraph 27 (d), subparagraph 27 (e) (iii) and
regulation 32)

[42] Schedule 12, Part 1, after clause 3.3

insert

3.3A Beverage dispensers for alcoholic liquor

[43] Schedule 12, Part 1, clause 3.5, heading

substitute

3.5 Portable measures for potable liquids

[44] Schedule 12, Part 1, clause 3.8, table heading

after

error

insert

at each scale mark on a particular measure

[45] Schedule 12, Part 1, Division 2, heading

substitute

Division 2 Measuring instruments

[46] Schedule 12, Part 1, clause 6, at the foot

insert

[47] Schedule 12, Part 1, after subclause 8.2.3

insert

8.2.4 Maximum permissible errors on calculators

  Maximum permissible errors on quantities of liquid indications applicable to calculators, positive or negative, when they are tested separately, are equal to 1/10 the maximum permissible error defined in line A of table 2. However, the magnitude of the maximum permissible error must not be less than one half-scale interval of the measuring system in which the calculator is intended to be included.

[48] Schedule 12, Part 1, clause 8.5

omit

[49] Schedule 12, Part 1, clause 9.3

substitute

9.3 Belt weighers

[50] Schedule 12, Part 1, after clause 9.3

insert

9.4 Catch weighers

The maximum permissible error for any load equal to or greater than the minimum capacity and equal to or less than the maximum capacity in automatic operation is:

[51] Schedule 12, Part 1, clause 10.1

omit everything after paragraph (d), insert

An instrument may be in an accuracy class for wagon weighing that is different from that for train weighing.

[52] Schedule 12, Part 1, subclause 10.2.1

omit everything after Table 1, insert

10.2.1.1   Wagon weighing

  The maximum permissible error for coupled or uncoupled wagon weighing is the greatest of the following values:

 (a) the value calculated according to table 1, rounded to the nearest scale interval (d);

 (b) the value calculated according to table 1, rounded to the nearest scale interval for the weight of a single wagon equal to 35% of the maximum wagon weight (as inscribed on the descriptive markings);

 (c) 1 d.

10.2.1.2   Train weighing

  The maximum permissible error for coupled or uncoupled wagon weighing is the greatest of the following values:

 (a) the value calculated according to table 1, rounded to the nearest scale interval (d);

 (b) the value calculated according to table 1 for the weight of a single wagon equal to 35% of the maximum wagon weight (as inscribed on the descriptive markings) multiplied by the number of reference wagons in the train (not exceeding 10 wagons) and rounded to the nearest scale interval;

 (c) 1 d for each wagon in the train, but not exceeding 10 d.

[53] Schedule 12, Part 1, after clause 10

insert

11 Multi-dimensional measuring (cubing) instruments

11.1 Scale intervals, minimum dimension

  The lower limit of the minimum dimension for all values of the scale interval (d) is:

11.2 Value of maximum permissible error

  The maximum permissible error applicable to the measurement by the instrument of any of the 3 dimensions for initial and subsequent verification is  1 d.

12 Grain protein measuring instruments

  The maximum permissible errors at verification, certification and reverification are:

 (a) wheat — 0.4%; and

 (b) barley — 0.5%.

Division 3 Utility meters

13 Water meters

13.1 Maximum permissible errors

13.1.1 The maximum permissible errors for water meters are:

Note   The definitions in this table are taken from NSC R 49-1, which is based on OIML R 49-1:2000.

[54] Schedule 12, Part 2

substitute

Part 2 Reverification or in-service inspection of measures and measuring instruments

  The maximum permissible errors (where v is the absolute value of the maximum permissible error at certification or verification) for measures and measuring instruments for use for trade, except utility meters, are:

[55] After Schedule 12

insert

Schedule 13 Fees

(regulation 90B)

Part 1 Examination and certification of patterns of measuring instruments

Division 1 Volume measuring instruments

Division 2 Weighing instruments

Division 3 Utility meters

Division 4 Examination and certification of patterns of measuring instruments under mutual recognition agreements

Division 5 Additional fees for use of equipment

Part 2 Verification of utility meters used for trade

[56] Further amendments — Chief Metrologist

[57] Further amendments — maximum permissible uncertainty and maximum permissible variation

Schedule 2 Amendments commencing on 1 July 2005

(regulation 3)

[1] Schedule 5

substitute

Schedule 5 Maximum permissible uncertainty — mass (State primary, secondary and tertiary standards)

(paragraphs 18 (5) (b) and (c), 25 (b) and 26 (a) and subparagraphs 25 (d) (i) and 26 (c) (i))

Note   The maximum permissible uncertainties in this table are based on OIML R 111.

[2] Schedule 9

substitute

Schedule 9 Maximum permissible uncertainty and maximum permissible variation — mass (Inspectors’ Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 standards)

(paragraph 27 (c), subparagraph 27 (e) (ii),
paragraphs 28 (b) and (c) and regulations 29, 32, 33
and 34)

Note   The maximum permissible uncertainties in this table are based on OIML R 111.

Notes

1. These Regulations amend Statutory Rules 1999 No.110, as amended by 1999 No. 185; Act No. 27, 2004.

2. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 18 June 2004.