If measuring devices used in markets or supermarkets are not being tested, customers won’t be able to rely on the provision of accurate, honest and fair trade.
Regional Quality Infrastructure Coordinator, Ulrich Diekmann stated this while opening the Pacific Metrology Week at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Diekmann says for instance, if you go and buy 1 kilogram of cassava, it may only weigh 900 grams because the weighing scale has not been tested properly or maintained.
He further says the metrology workshop will give importance in areas such as trade, health, safety, environmental monitoring, food safety, protection of consumer rights and law enforcement.
Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives and Small Medium Enterprises, Manager Policy and Officer in Charge, Virisila Tuimanu says metrology will help government establish consumer, business and international confidence in products and services, and every day the industry can make decisions based on measurement results which affect economic and personal well-being.
Tuimanu further says the government has allocated a sum of $1.4 million towards capital purchases for the Department of National Trade Measurement and Standards in the 2023/2024 National Budget to show its commitment towards improving the current Quality Infrastructure systems in place, especially in the area of standardisation and metrology.
Principal Inspectorate Officer from Tonga, Mateaki Loloa says the workshop is an opportunity for them to learn and enhance their skills and are glad to receive equipment from the Pacific Islands Forum and Quality Infrastructure.
25 participants from around the Pacific and 4 experts from the Australian National Measurement Institute and Trading Standards New Zealand are attending the workshop this week to share their knowledge with the participants.
