The Average Quantity System works in compliance with the National Measurement Institute’s (NMI) Weights and Measures program to ensure accuracy in pre-packaged goods.
How the Average Quantity System Works
Here’s a breakdown on how the Average Quantity System (AQS) and e weights work:
- Flexibility in Packaging: Under the Average Quantity System, manufacturers can fill packages with an average amount, rather than ensuring each package meets a strict minimum weight (as would be required by the Minimum Weight System). This provides flexibility in production and helps to reduce wastage.
- Measurement Rules for Consumer Protection
- Nominal Quantity: The total amount in a batch of packages must be at least as much as the amount listed on the label. This ensures that, on average, consumers get what they’re paying for across all packages.
- Tolerable Deficiency: A few packages can have a little less than the labelled amount, but there’s a set maximum limit on how much less they can be. This limit is known as the “tolerable deficiency.”
- Zero Tolerance for Large Deficiencies: No package should have a weight deficiency more than twice the allowable limit. This ensures that consumers receive close to the labelled weight and maintains regulatory compliance.
- E Weights Compliance Symbol: The “e” symbol on packages indicates to the buyers that they meet AQS standards, allowing manufacturers to export goods within specified quantity regulations across markets.
- Continuous Monitoring: Using equipment like checkweighers, manufacturers can monitor and record weights in real-time to maintain AQS compliance, making data available for audits and regulatory inspections.
By implementing AQS, manufacturers can instantly minimise waste, improve efficiency, and stay compliant with standards, benefiting both the business and the customer.
Benefits and Importance of the Average Quantity System
The Average Quantity System (AQS) plays a crucial role in ensuring fairness for both consumers and manufacturers when it comes to pre-packaged goods. Here’s why it’s important:
For Consumers | For Manufacturers |
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Key Steps for Manufacturers Migrating to AQS Packaging
For manufacturers in Australia, migrating to the AQS involves several important steps:
- Familiarise with Regulations: Understand the detailed AQS guidelines from the NMI (Weights & Measures). You can read more details at https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/guide-average-quantity-system-australia.
- Equipment and Process Assessment: Review your current packaging systems to ensure they meet AQS standards. Accurate filling and reliable measurement tools are critical, so upgrades or new equipment may be necessary for consistency and compliance.
- Develop Sampling and Testing Protocols: Establish procedures to periodically assess your products’ compliance with the AQS. Utilise an AQS-compatible inline checkweigher for efficient sampling and analysis of average weights against declared values.
- Update Packaging Labels: Modify your packaging to reflect the AQS requirements. Ensure that labels clearly denote the average product amount, incorporating an “e” symbol next to the net weight to indicate estimation.
- Maintain Comprehensive Records: Keep detailed records of your compliance efforts and sampling data. This documentation will be essential during potential audits by supermarkets or NMI inspectors. Many modern inline checkweighers facilitate complete data collection and batch report creation via USB or SQL databases.
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By adopting the AQS method, manufacturers can enhance their operational efficiency while reinforcing consumer trust. Both parties benefit from a fairer, more sustainable packaging system.