Becoming an accredited person

To be an Accredited Person under Section 30A of the Weights and Measures Act 1987 you must follow these steps.

Trading Standards will charge for accreditation related activities. For more information see Accreditation costs.

Before you can apply a Mark of Verification and issue a Certificate of Accuracy to weighing or measuring equipment that is used for trade, you must apply and be accredited by Trading Standards.

Step 1 – Apply to be accredited

Log in to Business Connect, then select and complete Trading Standards accreditation form 1.

Business Connect(external link)

Once an application has been submitted, you will receive an automated email. Be advised that, as part of the application process, you will be required to provide us with the documents listed below:

Step 2 – Application received

Once Trading Standards receive a complete application, a Client Manager will be assigned who will:

  • Assist you through the accreditation process, and
  • Assign a personal identifier to the organisation and the individuals.

Find out more about the role of the Client Manager.

Step 3 – Systems Audit

The Client Manager will conduct a Systems Audit of your Quality Management System and the associated documentation. The Systems Audit is carried out to ensure these documents meet the requirements of the legislation.

The Client Manager will raise any issues discovered with the organisation and request them to amend the documentation. Once the amendments have been actioned and updated documents returned to Trading Standards, the audit will continue.

When the documentation meets the requirements and is approved by Trading Standards, the Client Manager will provide a Systems Audit Report.

Systems Audits can be carried out by other accreditation bodies or organisations

Applicants can choose to have their Systems Audit completed by Trading Standards or by other competent bodies or organisations that are listed in the Weights and Measures Regulations 1999:

  • Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Limited
  • The Standards Association of New Zealand
  • The Accreditation Council
  • The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE)
  • Any other body or organisation that satisfies the Secretary that it is competent

All are required under the legislation to achieve the same outcome; to assess an applicant's Quality Management System and ensure that it meets the requirements of the Weights and Measures Act 1987 and the Weights and Measures Regulations 1999.

For applications where the Systems Audit has been undertaken by an assessment body other than MBIE, an application form must be submitted along with a full Systems Report to Trading Standards (for assessment) before the accreditation process can proceed.

Only Trading Standards can make the decision as to whether an applicant will be granted accreditation under the Act.

Step 4 – Management Representative Audit

The Client Manager or a Trading Standards Officer will conduct a Management Representative Audit of the appointed individual. The Management Representative audit is carried out to ensure they understand their role and responsibilities.

The Client Manager will provide a Management Representative Audit Report to the organisation and state if the individual is approved as the Management Representative.

If the individual is unsuccessful, another Management Representative Audit will be conducted, either on the same or another nominated individual. The audit has to be passed before the accreditation process can proceed.

Tip Icon Blue2 Note

For a face-to-face meeting outside of a Trading Standards office, a request for off-site work form must be completed.

For more information, see Health and Safety at Work Act – shared duties and expectations.

Step 5 – Online training modules

Each individual applicant will have to complete the relevant online modules for the category / sub-category of accreditation applied for. For more information see Resources and training.

Step 6 – Compliance Audit

The Compliance Audit is carried out to ensure each applicant has the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully complete their duties of examination and testing for the category / sub-category applied for.

The Client Manager will facilitate a Compliance Audit upon receipt of: 

  • Two completed test sheets, which are less than 6 months old, per applicant per category / sub-category of accreditation
  • A copy of an applicant’s training record
  • A screenshot showing completion of the relevant online training module(s)

For more information see Resources and training.

A Compliance Audit is to be conducted at a trader's premises using an instrument that is in use for trade, unless otherwise agreed with the Client Manager during the application process.

A Trading Standards Officer will conduct an audit for of each applicant per category / sub-category of accreditation. Each applicant will have to demonstrate their technical and practical competencies with an understanding of the organisation's Quality Management System. 

At the completion of the audit, the Trading Standards Officer may advise the applicant of the audit outcome. 

The Client Manager will provide the Management Representative with a Compliance Audit Report for the applicant and state if the individual is approved to be accredited. 

If an individual is not approved, go back to Step 1 and submit a new application form, if another Compliance Audit is required.

Tip Icon Blue2 Note

Be aware of the Health and Safety at Work Act – shared duties and expectations when a Compliance Audit is conducted.

For more information see Health and Safety at Work Act – shared duties and expectations.

For a face-to-face meeting outside of a Trading Standards office, a request for off-site work form must be completed.

Step 7 – Develop a Surveillance Plan

The Management Representative will develop a Surveillance Plan in agreement with the Client Manager.

The Surveillance Plan will record and track the surveillance activities completed by Trading Standards for all accredited individual(s) and accreditation category(ies) under an accredited organisation.

The Surveillance Plan is to be managed and maintained by the Management Representative, and it is their responsibility to ensure all surveillance activities are completed.

Find out more about the Surveillance Plan.

Step 8 – Letter of Accreditation

Once the above steps have been completed, the Client Manager will issue a Letter of Accreditation. This letter will be valid for 3-years, unless revoked sooner.

The Letter of Accreditation will be issued to the Manager Representative and state the name and personal identifier of the accredited organisation and list the name(s) and personal identifier(s) of the individual(s), including the categories and conditions of accreditation for each individual.

Step 9 – Verification of working standards

The accredited organisation has to submit their test equipment to a Trading Standards laboratory for verification.

The Trading Standards laboratory may provide a verification report for the equipment. Once a report is issued, the equipment is then deemed a working standard that can be used to complete verification and inspection work.

If the equipment is not compliant, the accredited organisation cannot use the equipment for verification or inspection work.

Find out more about working standards.