What Is a Trade Approved Scale and Why Your Business Needs One
When it comes to selling goods by weight, accuracy is more than just good practice—it’s a legal requirement. Whether you’re running a supermarket, a fresh produce store, a butcher shop, or a large-scale industrial operation, the scale you use directly affects pricing, customer trust, and compliance with trade regulations. This is where a trade approved scale comes into play. What Is a Trade Approved Scale? A trade approved scale is a weighing instrument that has been tested, verified, and certified to meet national or international standards for accuracy and reliability when goods are sold by weight. Unlike ordinary scales that may only serve internal purposes (such as stock management or portion control), trade approved scales are legally permitted for use in commercial transactions where a customer is charged based on weight. In Australia, for example, trade approved scales must meet the requirements set out by the National Measurement Institute (NMI) . Once approved, these scal...