CANADA: PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES REGULATIONS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.273. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: CANADA. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Industry Canada. Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above: National enquiry point. 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Weighing devices. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Proposed Amendment to the Weights and Measures Regulations (pages 1763-1769). 6. Description of content: The Weights and Measures Regulations and Ministerial Specifications prescribe design, composition, construction, performance, installation and use requirements for weighing and measuring devices, including non-automatic weighing devices. These requirements, drafted mainly for mechanical devices, were adopted in 1974 and have not been updated since. They are obsolete, considering current weighing and measuring device technology, and differ significantly from standards applied by Canada's major trading partners. The proposed modifications to the Weights and Measures Regulations will: 1. Exempt non-automatic weighing devices from requirements contained in the Regulations, since new specifications are being proposed for this type of device; and 2. eliminate from the Regulations certain technical requirements that are obsolete or that will become redundant as a consequence of the adoption of new specifications. For example: the actual Section 21 of the Regulations pertaining to marking will be modified so that it will no longer apply to non-automatic weighing devices, new requirements being proposed. As a second example: Sections 152, 153 and 154 in Part V of the Weights and Measures Regulations that prescribed design, composition and construction requirements for the levers of mechanical scales will be revoked. They are unduly prescriptive, inapplicable and they concern device types that are outdated, considering new technology. The new proposed specifications for non-automatic weighing devices will replace the actual requirements prescribed by the Weights and Measures Regulations. 7. Objective and rationale: Reducing barriers to trade. 8. Relevant documents: Canada Gazette, Part I, 14 June 1997. 9. Proposed date of adoption: Not stated; Proposed date of entry into force: 1 September 1997. 10. Final date for comments: 13 August 1997. 11. Text available from: National enquiry point. (0189)

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