Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (Esma), the sole standardization body in the UAE, will begin inspection of all the jewellery weighing scales in the country starting from next year.

The Esma move comes following a recent survey which found that 35 per cent of the jewellery weighing scales had exceeded the maximum permissible error, as per the UAE standard for non-automatic weighing instruments.

The survey of 800 jewellery weighing scales was conducted in Abu Dhabi (480), Sharjah (260) and Ajman (60) from April to October 2011.

The Emirati standardization body said about 10 per cent of the total jewellery weighing scales in the country have been covered in the survey.

Esma will cover the emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Kaimah; while QCC will cover Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be covered by DCL.

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) verified the jewellery weighing scales in line with the co-operation agreement signed between Esma and QCC to perform the legal metrology activities in Abu Dhabi.

Esma had also signed a similar agreement with Dubai Municipality to perform the verification of legal metrology instruments including weights and scales in Dubai through Dubai Central Lab (DCL). These activities are expected to start over the next two months.

A survey covering Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah will be conducted over the next two months.

While differences are small, the minuscule inconsistency makes a significant impact in the trade of gold and other precious metals, , said a top official.

Mohammad Saleh Badri, Esma acting director general, said: “It is our goal to protect the interests and rights of the consumers and the traders hence we are conducting the verification of these weighing scales every year.'
 
“We have started with the weighing scales in jewellery shops because of the nature and sensitivity of the product. Gold is an expensive commodity and any small error may have a huge impact on the economy and on the people,' Badri stated.

'We will also verify weighing scales used in other business sectors beginning next year,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service