The authority surveyed 800 jewelry weighing scales in the country from April to October 2011.

The survey covered Abu Dhabi (480), Sharjah (260) and Ajman (60).

The survey found that 35 percent of the jewelry weighing scales have exceeded the maximum permissible error, as per the UAE standard for non-automatic weighing instruments.

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

The move, which aims to control the market place as far as measurement is concerned, is in line with Cabinet Decree No.31 in 2006, which gives ESMA the authority to implement the verification of all legal measuring instruments in the UAE.

“We have started with the weighing scales in jewelry shops because of the nature and sensitivity of the product,” said engineer Mohammad Saleh Badri, ESMA’s acting director general.

“Gold is an expensive commodity and any small error may have a huge impact on the economy and on the people. We will also verify weighing scales used in other business sectors beginning next year,” he added.

“In terms of the process, a team of legal metrology inspectors and engineers will visit shops in the UAE randomly and verify their weighing scales. If the scale is not in line as per the technical regulation, adjustments will be made,” he added.

“Then ESMA will put a metrology mark on the weighing scales certifying that they have been checked and verified. That mark will be the consumer’s reference and assurance that the weighing scales used in that shop have been verified.”

Badri said all jewelry-weighing scales in UAE will verify on 2012 by ESMA and its stakeholders.

ESMA will cover Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al-Quwain and Ras Al-Kaimah; while QCC will cover Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be covered by DCL.

Badri added: “ESMA and its stakeholders will also follow up all weighing scales that have been found not complying with the UAE standards and regulations through surveillance visits to ensure the corrective action was taken by the owner.”

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) verified the jewelry weighing scales in Abu Dhabi according to cooperation and delegation agreements signed between ESMA and QCC to perform the legal metrology activities in Abu Dhabi.

ESMA recently signed cooperation and delegation 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.