Full Membership of the Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Légale - Regulatory Impact and Compliance Cost Statement

August 2003

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Statement of the Nature and Magnitude of the Problem and the Need for Government Action

Government has made a decision that New Zealand should become a full member of the Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Légale (OIML) (CAB Min (03) 21/2 refers). The OIML is an intergovernmental body dedicated to harmonising the national metrology regulations of its members. It develops model regulations and International Recommendations, which provide members with an internationally agreed basis for the establishment of national legislation on various categories of measuring instruments.

There is insufficient funding within Vote Consumer Affairs to allow New Zealand to become a full member of OIML and to service that membership. The cost of servicing full membership of OIML is $135,000 (incl. GST). Cabinet agreed to increase Vote Consumer Affairs by $67,000 (incl. GST) to fund 50% of the OIML membership costs. Full cost recovery of other services undertaken by the Trading Standards Service is required to allow the remainder of membership costs to be serviced.

A fee is charged by the Trading Standards Service of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs for the examination of weighing and measuring instruments submitted for approval under the Weights and Measures Act 1987. The hourly fee of $72, set by the Weights and Measures Regulations 1999, is insufficient to recover existing costs involved in the pattern approval of new or novel weighing and measuring instruments.

The Trading Standards Service also conducts contestable work. These services include the calibration of physical standards and conducting audits on accredited persons. The hourly fee of $78.75 for contestable work conducted by the Trading Standards Service also does not recover the full cost of providing these services.

To recover costs and fund the remaining 50% cost of the OIML membership an increase in the hourly fees are required and this is to be achieved by full recovery costs of these other services provided by the Trading Standards Service.

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