National criteria for measurements soon

Berro: uniform metrology system helps
protect consumer rights and boost exports

The National Metrology Council, an advisory body tasked with setting a uniform measurement system, was established in early August by the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET).

The establishment of a national metrology system was stipulated in law 158 adopted in August 2011 to regulate and control all measurement practices across sectors.

The national system is a reference for weights and measures used in local and international trade, according to Ali Berro, director of the Quality Unit at the MoET and vice-president of the Lebanese Council for Accreditation.

The National Metrology Council is chaired by the Minister of Economy and Trade. It's members include the director of consumer protection at the MoET, Fouad Fleifel, director general of the national standards institute LIBNOR, Lina Dergham, and Berro. The council also includes nine other members representing stakeholders from industry and commerce sectors, as well as from colleges and research institutes.

The council will survey and assess existing measurement methods and tools in order to define requirements: “We will seek to improve these methods to ensure that they come in line with global standards, mainly those applied by the EU,” said Berro.

The council will submit its proposals to the Cabinet, which will adopt the new regulations.

He said national measurement criteria will ensure consumer rights are protected better and will boost exports. “If you’re buying one kilogram of any product who can guarantee that the scale the merchant used truly measured out 1,000 grams, not less,” Berro said. He said that goods exported from developed countries require official verification that they have been weighed according to recognized standards.

The national metrology system will be applied to all retail activities in which goods are sold by weight, length, or volume. Once the system is adopted, gas stations, butcheries, grocery stores, and jewelers, will all have to adjust their scales according to a unified calibration. Regular compliance checks will be carried out by the consumer protection unit at the ministry. The production and importation of measurement tools and devices will also be controlled by the new system.

Reported by Hanadi Chami