Malawi
Metrication Act
Chapter 48:08
- Assented to on 8 May 1981
- Commenced on 26 June 1981
- [This is the version of this document at 31 December 2014.]
- [Note: This version of the Act was revised and consolidated in the Fifth Revised Edition of the Laws of Malawi (L.R.O. 1/2018), by the Solicitor General and Secretary for Justice under the authority of the Revision of the Laws Act.]
Part I – Preliminary
1. Short title
Part II – Introduction of the metric system
2. Metric units
On and after the commencement of this Act the units of the metric system shall have legal force and validity in Malawi and the units of the metric system shall consist of—3. Power of Minister to adapt, alter, convert and modify
The Minister responsible for the administration, of an Act may, in respect of that Act, by Order provide for the adaptation, alteration, conversion or modification of any of the provisions of that Act for the purpose of replacing references to units other than metric units which are either equivalent to such provisions or such approximations thereto as appear to the Minister to be desirable to ensure that, as so adapted, altered, converted or modified, they are expressed in convenient terms.4. Conversion of Imperial standard units to metric units
The values expressed in terms of any units of the Imperial standard relating to measures of extension whether lineal, superficial or solid, or weight or capacity, may be converted into values expressed in terms of the units of the metric system in accordance with the Second Schedule.5. Power of Minister to add to vary or amend Schedules
The Minister may from time to time, by Order, add to, vary or amend the Schedules to this Act as he may think fit.6. Saving
Part III – Weights, measures and instruments used in trade
7. Interpretation of Part
In this Part—“instrument” means a weighing or measuring instrument;“licensed repairer” means a person licensed pursuant to the principal Act to repair or overhaul instruments;“measure” means any device for the measurement of length area, capacity or volume;“weight” means a mass piece, of a kind ordinarily used in association with a weighing instrument, for the determination of quantity according to weight.8. Power of Minister to prohibit non-metric systems
9. Seizure and destruction of prohibited weights and measures
10. Surrender of instruments, seizure, etc.
11. Power of Minister to exempt
Where the Minister is satisfied that suitable arrangements exist for ultimate compliance with this Part he may, by Order, exempt any person, industry, trade or transaction from the provisions of any Order made under section 8 for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the Order made under this section.12. Conversion of instruments
13. Power of Minister to prohibit importation, sale or manufacture of non-metric instruments
The Minister may, by Order, prohibit the importation, sale or manufacture of instruments intended for use in trade which do not indicate in metric units, and an assizer shall not accept for assize any such instrument so prohibited.14. Offences and penalties
History of this document
26 June 1981
Commences.
08 May 1981
Assented to.