The Weights and Measures Division inspects and tests scales and measurement equipment used in commerce to ensure compliance with state laws and equity in the marketplace.

Division inspectors make routine inspections on all types of commercial weighing devices including railroad scales, vehicle scales, livestock scales, hopper scales, floor scales, bench scales, and those used to weigh precious metals and stones like gold, silver, and diamonds. Inspectors conduct package inspections to verify the net contents of packaged commodities and price verification inspections in businesses that utilize UPC scanning systems. The Division also investigates complaints involving weighing and measuring devices.

In addition, the Division licenses livestock facilities, livestock auctioneers, pulpwood facilities, bonded weighmasters, scale service companies, and repairmen that install and repair weighing or measuring devices within the State of Mississippi.

Mississippi requires the manufacturer or distributor of any weighing device(s) offered for sale, sold, installed for commercial use, or used commercially shall subject such device to type evaluation testing by National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP), National Conference on Weights & Measures (NCWM). Any weighing device not covered by a certificate of conformance from such agency shall not be used commercially in this state.

The NCWM maintains a listing of NTEP approved devices:

NTEP Approved Devices Lookup

Mississippi Moisture Meter Laboratory

The division also maintains the Moisture Meter Testing Laboratory located in Starkville on the campus of Mississippi State University. The Mississippi Moisture Meter Laboratory provides testing and inspection of devices used to measure the moisture content of agricultural products offered for sale, processed or stored, using standard methods set by the USDA. The Moisture Meter Laboratory also compiles grain standards used in the inspection of grain moisture meters tested in the State of Mississippi. The laboratory is operated by the Weights and Measures Division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Weights & Measures Forms

Application for Auctioneers License for Livestock

Application for Bonded Weighmaster’s License for an Individual

Application for Bonded Weighmaster’s License for a Business

Application for License to Test and Repair Scales

NTEP Requirements for Scales

Application to Engage in the Sale or Purchase of Livestock

Pulpwood Receiving Facility License Application

Scale Installation Permit Application

Complaint Form

Service Report Form

Weights & Measures Laws

Regulation of Moisture Measuring Devices Law

Mississippi Code Annotated Sections 69-31-1 through 69-31-15  Provides for the testing and inspections of devices or instruments used in proving or ascertaining the moisture content of agricultural products.

Weights and Measures Law of 1964

Mississippi Code Annotated Sections 75-27-1 through 75-27-67  Adopts systems of weights and measures for all commercial purposes in the state of Mississippi. Activities include the check weighing of packaged commodities, testing for accuracy of all intermediate scales and the wide range of heavy-duty scales. Provides for the licensing of all scale service repairmen.

Weights and Measures of Particular Commodities

Mississippi Code Annotated Section 75-27-113  Establishes a schedule of weights and measures of particular commodities.

Sale of Livestock by Weight Law

Mississippi Code Annotated Sections 75-27-201 through 75-27-221 Provides for the permitting of all establishments that sell or purchase livestock by weight; provides that such establishments be bonded in the amount of $10,000; provides that all livestock auctioneers be licensed; and provides periodic testing of scales used by such businesses and certain other matters.

Bonded Weighmasters Law

Mississippi Code Annotated Sections 75-27-301 through 75-27-325  Establishes qualifications and provides for licensing and bonding of persons engaged in the business of public weighing. Requires a bonded weighmaster to provide at his/her own expense an official seal for use on each weight certificate issued by him/her.

Farm Milk Tank Law

Mississippi Code Annotated Sections 75-31-201 through 75-31-229  Establishes certain tank design standards, calibration standards and provides for the calibration of all bulk milk tanks used on dairy farms in the state.

Mississippi Uniform Pulpwood Scaling and Practices Act

Mississippi Code Annotated Sections 75-79-1 through 75-79-33  The law was created to provide standard weights per cord for various categories of pulpwood for use in the conversion of weight to volume to weight in determining the selling price of such pulpwood; to regulate the measurement and receiving of pulpwood offered for sale; to provide for the licensing of all facilities receiving pulpwood; and to impose a fee to implement the provisions of this Act.

Weighing Devices for Farm-Raised Catfish

Mississippi Code Annotated Section 69-7-701  Provides that weighing devices used for determining the weight of catfish shall be suitable for such purpose, subject to the provisions of the Mississippi Weights and Measures Law, and shall be capable of electronically printing weight tickets.