The Department of Agriculture Consumer Services Division is charged with, but is not limited to, performing the following functions in connection with weights and measures on behalf of the citizens of the State:
(1) assuring that weights and measures in commercial service within the State are suitable for their intended use, properly installed, and accurate and are so maintained by their owner or user;
(2) preventing unfair or deceptive dealing by weight or measure in a commodity or service advertised, packaged, sold, or purchased within this State;
(3) making available to all users of physical standards or weighing and measuring equipment the precision calibration and related metrological certification capabilities of the weights and measures facilities of the division;
(4) promoting uniformity, to the extent practicable and desirable, between weights and measures requirements of this State and those of other states and federal agencies;
(5) encouraging desirable economic growth while protecting the consumer through the adoption by regulation of weights and measures requirements necessary to assure equity among buyers and sellers.
The Department of Agriculture shall charge a fee of forty-five dollars an hour based on a fee schedule for all calibrations performed for private sector entities by the Metrology Laboratory authorized by subsection (3). Revenues generated by these fees shall be used by the department to offset expenses incurred in operating the Metrology Laboratory.
HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 501, Section 1, eff August 25, 1994; 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 7C, eff July 1, 2009.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment added the undesignated paragraph at the end relating to fees for calibrations performed for private sector entities.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 9 - Weights And Measures
Section 39-9-30. Certain weighing devices are subject to standards and inspection.
Section 39-9-50. State's primary standards; verification of secondary standards.
Section 39-9-62. Requirements for packaging and labeling of commodities.
Section 39-9-64. Requirements for method of sale of commodities.
Section 39-9-66. Requirements for type evaluation.
Section 39-9-70. Duties of Commissioner of Agriculture.
Section 39-9-80. Inspection and testing of moisture meters.
Section 39-9-90. Powers of Commissioner of Agriculture.
Section 39-9-100. Powers and duties of county and municipal weights and measures officials.
Section 39-9-110. Selling less or taking more than quantity represented prohibited.
Section 39-9-120. Misrepresentation of price prohibited; display of price.
Section 39-9-130. Standard cord-equivalent weights for pulpwood.
Section 39-9-140. Measures by which commodities are sold.
Section 39-9-160. Information on packages.
Section 39-9-170. Situation in which package must show price per single unit of weight.
Section 39-9-180. Declaration of quantity required in advertisement stating retail price.
Section 39-9-190. Sale of leaf tobacco; weights and measures in auction warehouse.
Section 39-9-200. Unlawful acts.
Section 39-9-203. Civil penalties; civil action to recovery penalty.
Section 39-9-206. Administrative hearing before assessment of a civil penalty; amount of penalty.
Section 39-9-208. Unlawful acts; criminal penalties.
Section 39-9-210. Restraining orders, temporary or permanent injunctions.
Section 39-9-220. Presumption as to use of weight, measure, or weighing or measuring device.