The Average Quantity System The average quantity system is designed to replace the minimum weight system for packers producing goods on a volume basis to EEC Average weight packing. All goods packed must be checked accross a scale where the BATCH size is less than 100, however where the BATCH size is greater than 100 then only a small proportion of the packages need be sampled in order to meeet your responsibilities. We can provide systems for both process control or
QATesting using a PC if required.
Minimum Weight - Each pack must contain at least the quantity marked on the pack. Any weighing/measuring equipment used must be approved for trade use, and should be "stamped".
Average System - This differs from the minimum system in that some packs in a group may contain less than the marked quantity as long as 3 packers rules are followed which are
1. On average the packages of the BATCH must be equal to or greater than the nominal quantity i.e. some may be under as long as some are over.
2. The proportion of non-standard packages shall be sufficiently small to satisfy the requirements in the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006. A non-standard package is one which contains the nominal quantity minus the ‘tolerable negative error’. This TNE is calculated in accordance with the regulations.
3. No package in the group may be inadequate. An inadequate package is one which contains the nominal quantity minus twice the TNE. The table can be found at
http://www.scaledire...rageWeight2.htmThe Regulations for packing to EEC average weight changed in April 2006 to allow packers to package their goods in quantities up tp 25Kg, and also that any equipment used shall be approved for trade purposes
Quality Checks- These must be carried out to ensure the three rules above are being complied with, usually this is on a sample of the batch.
The number you need to check depends on the size of the batch, remember it's not the mean of the production run but the total batch of products made that day.
Anyone wishing to ‘e’ mark packages, import or export them is required to give details to their local Trading Standards Department to ensure they are registered packers and make available their filling process for Reference Testing.
Hope this helps