Weights & Measures Division

The work performed by the Weights and Measures Division touches the lives of all Missourians. Known as the department’s consumer protection arm, the division protects buyers and sellers whenever goods and services are exchanged. Its responsibilities include: inspecting the accuracy of weighing and metering devices; providing precise calibration of equipment; ensuring fuel quality; inspection of eggs; ensuring milk is not sold under cost; and ensuring public safety at premises where petroleum products and LPG (propane) are stored.

Consumer confidence can only be gained by ensuring that shoppers get what they pay for. Employees of the Device and Commodity Inspection Program inspect large and small scales, grain hopper scales, taxicab meters, odometers, timing devices, prepackaged merchandise and method of sale commodities, as well as enforce the Missouri Egg Law and the Missouri Unfair Milk Sales Practices Act. Division staff visit 15,000 businesses annually, testing 25,000 scales and checking more than 30,000 prepackaged commodities.

Through aggressive inspection and testing, the Fuel Quality Program performs more than 70,000 tests on 10,000 samples annually. The result of the program’s efforts is reflected in the low occurrence of octane mislabeling and the high standard of fuel quality throughout the state.

The state metrologist, housed in the division, is the official keeper of Missouri’s primary standards of mass, volume and length. The division’s Metrology Laboratory provides traceable calibration standards used by industry for quality control in manufacturing as well as scale and pump/meter sales and service agencies for installation and servicing of all weighing and measuring devices. Annually, the program certifies more than 5,300 test weights and 200 test measures and volume provers. In addition, the grain moisture meter testing program, under the supervision of the metrologist, inspects and certifies the accuracy of more than 800 grain moisture meters throughout the state.

The division’s Petroleum Program combines a variety of services to ensure fairness and safety across the industry. Under the program, petroleum dispensers, petroleum terminal meters and metered fuel delivery trucks are tested for accuracy; service station pumps are inspected for accuracy and safety; LPG (propane) installations in public institutions and bulk manufacturing plants are inspected; LPG carburetion in passenger vehicles, school buses and trucks are inspected; metered LPG delivery trucks are checked; and storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia is monitored.