The South Korean government has established a support system for precise measurements in advanced industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries. New standards will ensure that the actual average content of packaged goods, including snacks and milk, must not be less than the amount indicated on the packaging.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 8 that a partial amendment to the Measurement Law was approved at a Cabinet meeting. The amendment passed the National Assembly on August 20 and will take effect one year after its promulgation.
This is the first major revision of the Measurement Law in 25 years, following a comprehensive overhaul in 2000. The changes aim to expand the existing measurement system, which focused on commerce, to support the quality and productivity of advanced industries and to adapt to the evolving consumer environment.
The amendment redefines activities related to accurate measurements in manufacturing, processing, testing, and quality control as 'industrial measurement.' It also provides a legal basis for the government to support companies in establishing measurement management systems and disseminating measurement technologies and training.
The government will designate 'Industrial Measurement Support Centers' to specialize in research and development and support for various industries. This initiative aims to enhance measurement reliability in advanced sectors such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and aerospace and defense, which require ultra-precise measurements, while assisting small and medium-sized enterprises that struggle to develop their own measurement technologies and infrastructure.
Consumer goods that display volume or weight on their packaging, such as milk and snacks, will see strengthened content management. A new 'average content standard' will be introduced, requiring that the average content of products must be equal to or greater than the amount stated on the packaging. The amendment also establishes grounds for publicizing products that violate these regulations.
The management of legal measuring instruments will become more flexible. For automatic scales over 10 tons or tanks with visual markings, which may not fit the existing approval, verification, and re-verification procedures due to their technical characteristics or installation and usage environments, some procedures may be exempted. It will also be possible to replace re-verification with calibration.
Measuring instruments that do not fall under legal categories, such as those for home or educational use, must clearly indicate that they are not for commercial or certification purposes. This is to help consumers easily distinguish between legal measuring instruments and others.
Local governments will be allowed to outsource regular inspections of commercial scales conducted every two years to private specialized organizations. Legal training grounds for local measurement inspection officials will also be established.
Kim Dae-ja, head of the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, stated, "This law amendment is significant as it expands the commerce-centered measurement system to support the quality reliability of advanced industries and reorganizes the measurement system to fit the changed industrial and consumer environment."
He added, "We will make policy efforts to strengthen the foundation of industrial measurement that enhances the competitiveness of advanced industries and to increase the measurement reliability that the public experiences in their daily lives."
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 8 that a partial amendment to the Measurement Law was approved at a Cabinet meeting. The amendment passed the National Assembly on August 20 and will take effect one year after its promulgation.
This is the first major revision of the Measurement Law in 25 years, following a comprehensive overhaul in 2000. The changes aim to expand the existing measurement system, which focused on commerce, to support the quality and productivity of advanced industries and to adapt to the evolving consumer environment.
The amendment redefines activities related to accurate measurements in manufacturing, processing, testing, and quality control as 'industrial measurement.' It also provides a legal basis for the government to support companies in establishing measurement management systems and disseminating measurement technologies and training.
The government will designate 'Industrial Measurement Support Centers' to specialize in research and development and support for various industries. This initiative aims to enhance measurement reliability in advanced sectors such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and aerospace and defense, which require ultra-precise measurements, while assisting small and medium-sized enterprises that struggle to develop their own measurement technologies and infrastructure.
Consumer goods that display volume or weight on their packaging, such as milk and snacks, will see strengthened content management. A new 'average content standard' will be introduced, requiring that the average content of products must be equal to or greater than the amount stated on the packaging. The amendment also establishes grounds for publicizing products that violate these regulations.
The management of legal measuring instruments will become more flexible. For automatic scales over 10 tons or tanks with visual markings, which may not fit the existing approval, verification, and re-verification procedures due to their technical characteristics or installation and usage environments, some procedures may be exempted. It will also be possible to replace re-verification with calibration.
Measuring instruments that do not fall under legal categories, such as those for home or educational use, must clearly indicate that they are not for commercial or certification purposes. This is to help consumers easily distinguish between legal measuring instruments and others.
Local governments will be allowed to outsource regular inspections of commercial scales conducted every two years to private specialized organizations. Legal training grounds for local measurement inspection officials will also be established.
Kim Dae-ja, head of the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, stated, "This law amendment is significant as it expands the commerce-centered measurement system to support the quality reliability of advanced industries and reorganizes the measurement system to fit the changed industrial and consumer environment."
He added, "We will make policy efforts to strengthen the foundation of industrial measurement that enhances the competitiveness of advanced industries and to increase the measurement reliability that the public experiences in their daily lives."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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