ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 29, 2024) ~ Annapolis, MD - Governor Wes Moore has declared March 1-7 as Maryland Weights and Measures Week in honor of the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Weights and Measures Section. This proclamation recognizes the crucial role that this department plays in protecting consumers and ensuring fairness in the marketplace.

According to Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks, the Weights and Measures Section provides a vital consumer protection service by ensuring the accurate measurement of various products such as groceries, gas, and home fuel oil. He also expressed his appreciation for the important work done by MDA inspectors.

The Weights and Measures program is responsible for inspecting weighing and measuring devices as well as packaged commodities in the marketplace to ensure compliance with laws. They also investigate consumer complaints related to incorrect weight and measurement of goods. This regulation is one of the oldest continual functions of government.

In FY23, the program's field staff conducted nearly 22,000 inspections of commercial weighing and measuring devices at over 6,200 businesses across Maryland. This included inspections of cash registers, deli scales, fuel pumps, and other devices. They also inspected more than 18,000 pre-packaged commodities offered for sale and investigated over 200 consumer complaints, with most being related to gasoline sales.

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In recent years, the program has modernized its operations by implementing a database that tracks registration of businesses using electronic inspection software instead of paper reports. This has made their operations more efficient and cost-effective in their mission to protect consumers.

To stay up-to-date with industry trends, inspectors undergo specialized training and accredited testing. Recently, they have taken on the responsibility of inspecting gas pumps for credit card skimming devices as their presence increases throughout the state. The importance of weights and measures remains just as relevant today as it was in the past.

Maryland Weights and Measures Week coincides with National Weights and Measures Week which commemorates President John Adams' signing of the first U.S. weights and measures law in 1799. This year's theme, "Collaborating with Partners and Stakeholders for a Greater Measure of Equity," highlights the importance of collaborations in the field of weights and measures.

For more information on the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Weights and Measures Section or to submit a complaint, individuals can visit the department's website or contact them at (410) 841-5790 or weights.measures@maryland.gov. Throughout Weights and Measures Week, consumers can also find helpful tips on the department's Facebook page at MdAgDept.

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