20% of shop scales gave false readings

More than one in five weighing scales in shops gave false readings last year, while more than a third of taxi meters also failed inspection.

According to the annual report of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), 31% of 2,130 vehicle taxi meters tested failed inspections, while 21% of weighing scales in shops tested by NSAI inspectors failed.

Despite this, however, last year saw a sharp increase in the compliance rates among petrol stations. Of the 5,941 petrol/diesel pumps tested by NSAI inspectors to ensure they were calibrated correctly, just 393 failed (7%). Some of the reasons for failures include the petrol/diesel pumps or taximeters had recently been repaired, altered or adjusted, or the seals were broken or damaged.