The Ministry of Commerce has arrested a shop selling substandard measuring tapes.

Nonthaburi, The Department of Internal Trade, together with the Consumer Protection Police Division, inspected 'a shop selling measuring tapes with automatic retractable metal strips (tape measures)' that were not inspected and certified by officials. If the public finds substandard weighing and measuring devices for sale, they can report it to the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569. Mr. Udom Srisomsong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, revealed that the Department of Internal Trade has received complaints from the public that several shops selling measuring tapes with automatic retractable metal strips (tape measures) are selling substandard measuring devices that have not been inspected and certified by officials. The Department of Internal Trade has therefore integrated with police officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) to investigate the facts. On July 4, 2024, four shops selling measuring devices were inspected in a shopping mall in Chatuchak District, Bangkok. A total of 62 measuring devices were found. The inspection results showed that 1 store sold 24 uncertified measuring devices, which is an offense under Section 24 of the Weights and Measures Act B.E. 2542 and amendments, which is the sale of uncertified weighing devices, which is punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht, or both. Therefore, legal action will be taken. The public can observe the following before purchasing a standard tape measure: 1. Must have a certification sticker from the "Central Weights and Measures Office" 2. The certification mark (Garuda emblem) must be aligned with the zero starting edge of the device 3. Must display the maximum length of the tape measure 4. The unit of measurement on the tape measure should be in meters or centimeters 5. Made of metal 6. The scale and length numbers must be clear, easy to read, and difficult to erase " I would like to emphasize that stores selling measuring devices (tape measures) mu st register a business certificate as a seller of measuring devices. If the measuring device does not have a certification, the measuring device can be brought in for certification at the Central Weights and Measures Office or branch offices nationwide (see branch locations at www.dit.go.th) and if the public is suspicious or has been taken advantage of by cheating on scales or has received unfair treatment, they can file a complaint via the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569 and the LINE @MR.DIT application or the Weights and Measures branch offices nationwide," said Mr. Udom. Source: Thai News Agency