Weighing systems for static quality control in accordance with the Ready-made Packaging Ordinance (FPVO)

Just full to the brim and ready? Ready-made packaging and checkweighers ensure the right quantity

Regardless of whether you are a beekeeper, farm shop, organic shop or in the food industry - as soon as it is filled into packaging, such as: b. into a glass, the weight for sale must be determined using a scale. Simply filling the packaging to the brim is not only uneconomical, but also not permitted. In addition to a violation of competition law, calibration law also does not agree with this procedure. In principle, a calibrated check scale must be used to determine weight. This results from the Ordinance on Prepackaged Packaging (Prepackaged Packaging Ordinance) § 27. The scale is selected based on the required maximum load/weighing range and the largest permissible calibration value/digit increment (e) for the nominal filling quantity to be tested. According to Appendix 7 - 1.1.1, non-automatic scales can be used as checkweighers, whereby the calibration value is shown in the following table.

Nominal filling quantity of the prepackaged packaging in g or ml	Largest permissible calibration value / digit increment (e) of the balance
Less than 10 g (ml)	0.1g
From 10g (ml) to less than 50g (ml)	0.2g
From 50g (ml) to less than 150g (ml)	0.5g
From 150g (ml) to less than 500g (ml)	1.0g
From 500g (ml) to less than 2500g (ml)	2.0g
From 2500 g (ml) and more	5.0g
From 10 kg (l) to less than 15 kg (l)	10g
From 15 kg (l) to less than 25 kg (l)	20g
From 25 kg (l) to less than 100 kg (l)	50g

These rules provide clear guidelines for production control and give consumers confidence that the actual filling quantities correspond to the manufacturer's printed information. Ready-packaged products that are manufactured and tested according to the rules of the Ready-made Packaging Ordinance usually have this symbol on their label:

A special feature is the full test. This always comes into play when fewer than 100 packages of a product are to be produced and a non-destructive test is to be carried out: In short, each individual finished packaging (jars, bags, etc.) must be tested. ) be placed on the scales. Presenting all possible sample tests here would be very extensive. These can be requested from us if necessary.

Scales for pre-packaged packaging control (FPVO) must have a calibratable type approval and may only be used in a calibrated manner. There are different recalibration periods, which are based on the use of the scale. With a checkweigher it's easy - the calibration period is always one year.

The Finished Packaging Ordinance (or FPVO for short)

Section 22 of the FertigPackVO is relevant for scales intended for pre-packaged products.
This says:

(1) Prepacks marked by weight or volume with the same nominal filling quantity may only be manufactured commercially in such a way that the filling quantity at the time of production
1. on average does not fall below the nominal filling quantity and
2. does not exceed the values specified in paragraph 3 for the minus deviation from the nominal filling quantity.

(2) Prepacks marked by weight or volume with the same nominal filling quantity may only be brought commercially into the area of application of this regulation if the filling quantity at the time of production
1. on average does not fall below the nominal filling quantity and
2. does not exceed the values for the minus deviation from the nominal filling quantity specified in paragraph 3.

(3) The permissible minus deviations are:

Nominal filling quantity QN in g or ml	Permitted minus deviation
Nominal filling quantity QN in g or ml	in % of QN	in g or ml
5 to 50	9	-
50 to 100	-	4.5
100 to 200	4.5	-
200 to 300	-	9
300 to 500	3	-
500 to 1,000	-	15
1,000 to 10,000	1.5	-

When using this table, the values of the permissible minus deviation calculated in units of weight or volume and expressed as a percentage shall be rounded up to 0.1 gram or 0.1 milliliter.
The minus deviations may be exceeded by a maximum of 2 percent of the finished packages.

(4) Prepacks marked by weight or volume with the same nominal capacity may only be placed on the market commercially for the first time if the minus deviation from the nominal capacity does not exceed twice the values specified in the table in paragraph 3.

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