Weight control
Honey can be filled to either minimum quantity (each jar should be at or above the declared weight), or to average weight.
For minimum weight, each jar or container must be individually weighed on a scale that has been tested and approved for trade use.
For average weight, there are certain rules - the 'packers rules' - which must be followed. These allow for some weights to be a certain amount below the weight shown on the jar, provided that the average weight is equal to or above that weight. If you feel you need a copy of the packers rules, please ask your local trading standards service.
The easiest thing to do is to fill each jar either by eye or on a scale, then check a few from each batch and make sure that the weights are all at or above the weight declared. For this check, you should use a scale which you know is accurate - a stamped shop scale is ideal. You must remember to take away the weight of the empty jar and lid. To get this tare weight, weigh ten jars plus lids and use the weight of the heaviest.
If you find that some of the weights of full jars are low, you will need to weigh every jar from that batch, and remove all the ones that are low. You can then top these up and re-check them.
You should keep a note of the checks you have made, which should include the time and date of weighings, the weights found, and what the weight should have been. You should keep the record of these checks for a year.
The number of jars you need to check will vary with the size of the batch. For guidance, it is likely to be sufficient to check three out of batches of 50 jars or less, five out of batches between 50 and 100, and seven or eight for batches of over 100.
