News Release

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – This week, the Missouri Department of Agriculture celebrates the Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection team’s efforts toward creating an equitable marketplace for both consumers and private businesses throughout the state. National Weights and Measures Week is celebrated every year from March 1-7 to commemorate President John Adams signing the first U.S. weights and measures legislation into law on March 2, 1799.

In Missouri, the Division of Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection is responsible for enforcing regulations that protect not only the consumer, but also the businesses who sell their various products and services.

“Whether you’re purchasing lunch meat from the deli, delivering grain to the elevator, purchasing fuel from the local gas station, or attempting to determine specific property boundaries, the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Division of Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection plays a critical role in ensuring equity in the marketplace,” said Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division Director Jimmy Williams.

To promote trust and integrity in commercial transactions involving weights, measures and land survey, Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection division carries out five main programs.

Device and Commodity Program

This program is responsible for testing the accuracy of all commercial weighing devices in the state. Scale inspectors test all point-of-sale scales, including those found at grocery stores, grain elevators and livestock barns. This program is also responsible for verifying that the price on the shelf matches the price at checkout, performs inspections of prepackaged goods, tests moisture meters for accuracy and enforces regulations pertaining to egg quality and retail milk pricing.

Fuel Device Safety and Accuracy Program (FDSA)

The FDSA Program’s dual mission includes verifying the accuracy of all fuel dispensers (gas pumps) throughout the state, as well as ensuring all locations that sell fuel to the public adhere to national fire code standards.  This team of inspectors can be found performing inspections at marinas, fuel terminals, bulk plants and retail fueling locations.

Fuel Quality Program

This program is not only responsible for the inspection and sampling of fuel products at retail fueling stations, but also for the testing of fuel samples to ensure Missouri consumers are purchasing quality fuel products for their vehicles and equipment. Missouri’s Fuel Quality Lab is one of only 14 state labs of its kind in the country.

Metrology Program

The Metrology Program performs standard calibrations for MDA weights and measures inspectors, as well as private service companies. These calibrations ensure that all mass and volume standards being used in the field are accurate.

Land Survey

The Land Survey Program is charged with identifying and restoring lost or destroyed section corners within the U.S. Public Land Survey System.  The program also maintains an online record storage and retrieval system of land survey documents and maps that can be accessed by the public.

To learn more about the Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division, visit agriculture.mo.gov/weights.

To learn more about the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, visit Agriculture.Mo.Gov.

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