Colorado Governor Honors Program that Affects Every Coloradan

“Every citizen and every business has a direct financial interest in seeing that all transactions are fair to both the buyer and seller.” –Steve Bornmann

Governor Ritter has issued a proclamation heralding the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s consumer protection efforts; Colorado’s Weights and Measures Week is March 1-7, 2010.

“From weighing products at the grocery store to weighing coal trains, CDA’s Inspection and Consumer Services division affects almost every person in Colorado,” said Steve Bornmann, division director. “Our goal is to protect consumers and promote equity and integrity in the marketplace. The measurement standards programs and metrology laboratory play integral part in that goal.”

Inspectors and metrologists within the Measurement Standards program ensure the accuracy of scales, meters, and packaged products at supermarkets, warehouses, packing plants, storage facilities, and other retail stores through inspections. CDA’s Metrology Laboratory calibrates the standards used by the inspectors and licensed scale repair companies. Both protect the consumer and help ensure fairness in the marketplace.

“It is the responsibility of weights and measures officials to make tests of commercially used weighing and measuring devices and report their condition to the owners,” continued Bornmann. “If the devices are correct, they are approved and sealed. If incorrect, they are rejected for use until corrected.”

Scales and other measuring devices can become obsolete or out of adjustment just like any other mechanical equipment. Unlike many other devices, they continue to give quantity determinations, although incorrect, until they are tested, corrected, and replaced.

For more information on CDA Weights and Measures programs, visit www.colorado.gov/ag and click on “Measurement Standards” or “Metrology Laboratory.”

The proclamation states:

WHEREAS, The Colorado Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures Programs serve to meet the public need for uniform weights and measures in our state; and

WHEREAS, employees within the Weights and Measures Programs ensure all weighing and measuring devices used in commerce are accurate in both their design and operation; and,

WHEREAS, weights and measures activities have an annual estimated economic impact of more than $75 billion in Colorado; and,

WHEREAS, each year the first week in March is set aside as Weights and Measures Week to commemorate the nation’s first Weights and Measures Law – enacted on March 2, 1799 – and to raise public awareness of the importance of this law; and

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado recognizes the dedicated efforts of our state servants who ensure our weights and measures meet the national standard and encourages the public to learn more about this important service and the impact it has on their lives;

Therefore, I , Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim March 1 – 7, 2010, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES WEEK in the State of Colorado.