When you buy a kilogram of Christmas ham, seafood or cherries, you should get a kilogram.
Accurate trade measurement helps protect consumers and supports a level playing field for businesses.
This November, NMI trade measurement inspectors will focus on:
- independent supermarkets
- fruit and vegetable retailers
- meat, fish and poultry retailers.
Previous NMI compliance results identified these retail sectors as having a higher risk of trade measurement non-compliance.
What will NMI check?
NMI inspectors will check that retailers correctly measure goods sold by weight, measure or count.
They will check:
- over-the-counter sales
- scales and other measuring instruments used for trade
- products packed by retailers
- business practices and controls
- online sales.
Inspectors will also conduct trial purchases to check that customers receive the amount they pay for. Checks will include popular Christmas foods such as poultry, seafood, cherries and watermelon.
Why does this matter?
With cost-of-living pressures on household budgets, getting the amount you pay for matters. If you receive less product than you paid for, you lose value at the checkout. Small differences can add up, especially during the busy Christmas shopping period.
Recent NMI compliance reporting found:
- 59% of businesses audited through over-the-counter programs complied with trade measurement requirements
- 69% of trial purchases complied with trade measurement requirements.
Among the businesses audited, fruit and vegetable retailers, meat and seafood retailers, delicatessens and other small food businesses recorded some of the highest rates of non-compliance.
These results help NMI target inspections where there is a higher risk of trade measurement non-compliance.
Helping Australians shop with confidence
Inspectors will provide advice to help businesses meet their trade measurement obligations and will take enforcement action where necessary.
By identifying and addressing measurement problems before the Christmas rush, the audit will help shoppers get what they pay for and support businesses that follow the rules.
Know your rights when you shop
Buying something by weight, measure or count? Know what you are paying for. Learn more about your trade measurement rights and what you can do if you think you received less than you paid for.
For more information contact the national trade measurement helpline on 1300 686 664 or email infotm@measurement.gov.au.