7/17/23, 11:10 PM National Conference on Weights and Measures - Wikipedia

National Conference on Weights and

Measures
Coordinates: 40.8111295°N 96.7072691°W

(Redirected from National Type Evaluation Program)

The National Conference on Weights and Measures

(NCWM) is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing National Conference on
the United States technical standards for weights and measures Weights and Measures
in commerce. The organization's official mission is "Ensuring
Equity and Uniform Standards in a Changing Marketplace."[1][2]

History
The Weights and Measures Law was first signed into law on
March 2, 1799 by President John Adams. In 1905, a meeting of
the states was held to address the challenges of regulating Location within Nebraska
weights and measures. As a result, an agreement was made to Formation 1905
convene annually to set national standards for voluntary
adoption and implementation by the states. The National Focus Weights and
Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) emerged from measures
this effort to bring stakeholders together. With the exception of Headquarters Lincoln,
11 years, annual meetings have been held every year since. Nebraska

From 1905 to 1957, the Director of the National Bureau of Coordinates

Standards served as the Chairman of NCWM. Starting in 1958, Area served United States
NCWM members began electing a state or local weights and
Executive Don Onwiler
measures official each year to serve as chairman. The National Director
Bureau of Standards, later renamed the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, continued to manage meetings and National Type James Truex
Evaluation
membership until 1997, when NCWM formed a 501(c)(6) not-
Program
for-profit corporation. From 1998 to 2008, NCWM contracted Administrator
management services through a private company. In 2008, the
Board of Directors hired the first NCWM employees, Don Website www.ncwm.net
Onwiler as Executive Director and James Truex as National (http://www.ncw
Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) Administrator. They hired m.net/)
additional staff and opened offices in Lincoln, Nebraska in
August 2008.

NCWM's various model standards are published annually by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) in three handbooks: Handbook 44: Specifications and Tolerances and Other
Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices, Handbook 130: Uniform Laws and
Regulations, and Handbook 133: Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods.

Organization
NCWM is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. NCWM is governed by bylaws as adopted by its
membership and policies as set by its board of directors. NCWM administers the National Type
Evaluation Program (https://www.ncwm.com/ntep-about) (NTEP). This program provides

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certification that a manufacturer of a particular model or family of weighing or measuring devices is

capable of meeting the United States standards as adopted by NCWM and published in Handbook
44. Most states require NTEP Certification for new equipment placed into commercial service.[3]

Membership
NCWM membership is open to any person. The membership year is October 1 to September 30.

Committees
There are three standing committees.

Specifications and Tolerances Committee[4]

Laws and Regulations Committee[5]
Professional Development Committee[6]

Subcommittees
Fuels and Lubricants Subcommittee[7] (FALS)
Packaging and Labeling Subcommittee[8] (PALS)
Safety Subcommittee[9]

National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP)

The National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) is a means of ensuring manufacturers of commercial
weighing and measuring instruments are capable of meeting national standards before the
instruments are introduced into the marketplace. NTEP provides manufacturers with one evaluation
and certification that is accepted throughout the United States.

The NTEP Committee is responsible for oversight of NTEP. The Committee provides final review
and approval of recommendations to amend NCWM Publication 14 Technical Policy, Checklists and
Test Procedures and makes recommendations to the National Conference on Weights and Measures
(NCWM) Board of Directors for amendments to NCWM Publication 14 Administrative Policy. The
NTEP Committee also addresses NCWM’s involvement in international standards development and
agreements related to type evaluation and certification.

NTEP Certificate of Conformance

NTEP certification is issued by NCWM upon successful completion of the evaluation process. This
NTEP Certificate of Conformance indicates that the device manufacturer has demonstrated the
ability to meet applicable requirements for commercial weighing and measuring equipment in the
United States as specified in Handbook 44: Specifications and Tolerances and Other Technical
Requirements. NTEP certification is required in most states in the United States.

NTEP Authorized Laboratories

There are nine NTEP-authorized laboratories:

California Department of Agriculture, Division of Measurement Standards[10]

Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA)
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Kansas Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Program[11]

Maryland Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Program[12]
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Mass and Force Group[13]
New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, Bureau of Weights and Measures[14]
North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Standards Division[15]
Ohio Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Division[16]
Oregon Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Program[17]
Measurement Canada[18]

National Type Evaluation Program Sectors

NTEP serves as a means of assurance that a device will be manufactured in accordance with United
States standards for commercial weighing and measuring devices. These standards are adopted by
the NCWM and published in Handbook 44: Specifications and Tolerances and Other Technical
Requirements. NCWM utilizes special committees called National Type Evaluation Program Sectors
to develop the technical policies, checklists and test procedures that are used for the evaluation and
certification process. These criteria are published annually in NCWM Publication 14.

Sector members include authorized laboratories, manufacturers, technical advisors and the NTEP
Administrator. The sectors provide a forum for consensus building among evaluators and the
technical experts who design and market the equipment. There are five NTEP Sectors, each
specializing in a particular area of commercial weighing and measurement.

Grain Analyzer Sector

Measuring Sector
Software Sector
Weighing / Belt-Conveyor Scale Sector

Meetings
NCWM offers many meetings throughout the year to allow every person a voice in the issues facing
the weights and measures community today. The meetings have direct impact on the national
standards. The two largest conferences are the Interim Meeting and the Annual Meeting. The
Interim Meeting is held each January as a forum to develop proposals to amend the United States
weights and measures standards contained in Handbooks 44, 130, and 133 and determine each
proposal's status for the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is held each July to further develop
proposals and vote on proposed amendments to the national standards.

Upcoming Meetings
2023 Interim Meeting / January 8-11, 2023 / Savanah, Georgia
108th Annual Meeting / July 30 - August 3, 2023 / Norfolk, Virginia

NCWM also holds numerous NTEP Sector and Work Group meetings throughout the year. Each
sector specializes in a particular area of commercial weighing and measurement.

National Outreach

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NCWM works in partnership with four regional associations to facilitate a grassroots approach to
standards development. They are the Central,[19] Northeastern,[20] Southern[21] and Western
Weights and Measures Associations.[22] These associations are stand-alone organizations composed
of volunteer leadership from the public and private sectors of the weights and measures community.
The leadership and committee structure of these associations is traditionally very similar to that of
NCWM.

Regional associations serve as the gateway for new proposals to amend the national standards. Any
person or organization may submit a proposal to one or all of the regions by completing NCWM
Form 15. The regional committees will conduct open hearings, deliberate and determine whether
these new items will be forwarded to the national committees for further consideration. Regional
associations also serve as a means to continue development of items on the agendas of the national
committees. Finally, these associations provide an opportunity for state and local officials and
private companies to conduct training events, build relationships and assist NCWM in the standards
development process.

Publications
The public can have a direct role in developing the laws and regulations for weights and measures by
participating in the standards development process. The standards are subject to amendment on an
annual basis. They are adopted by NCWM and contained in the following Handbooks and NCWM
Publications.[23]

Handbook 44 Specifications, Tolerances and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and
Measuring Devices
Handbook 130 Uniform Laws and Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel
Quality
Handbook 133 Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods[24]
NCWM Publication 14 Administrative Policy
NCWM Publication 14 Grain Moisture Meters & Near Infrared Grain Analyzers
NCWM Publication 14 Measuring Devices
NCWM Publication 14 Weighing Devices
NCWM Publication 14 CD

See also
Measurement Canada

References
1. "NCWM Home" (https://www.ncwm.com/). www.ncwm.com.
2. "CDFA Press Release #11-006 - NATIONAL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES WEEK IS MARCH 1-
7" (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=11-006).
www.cdfa.ca.gov.
3. NIST Handbook 155 Weights and Measures Program Requirements: A Handbook for the
Weights and Measures Administrator (2011 ed.). Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of
Standards and Technology. 2011. pp. 13–14.
4. "S&T Committee | National Conference on Weights & Measures" (https://www.ncwm.com/st-com
mittee). www.ncwm.com.
5. "L&R Committee | National Conference on Weights & Measures" (https://www.ncwm.com/lr-com
mittee). www.ncwm.com.

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7/17/23, 11:10 PM National Conference on Weights and Measures - Wikipedia

6. "PDC | National Conference on Weights & Measures" (https://www.ncwm.com/pd-committee).

www.ncwm.com.
7. "L&R Committee | National Conference on Weights & Measures" (https://www.ncwm.net/committ
ees/laws-regulations/subcommittee/fals).
8. "L&R Committee | National Conference on Weights & Measures" (https://www.ncwm.net/committ
ees/laws-regulations/subcommittee/pals).
9. "PDC | National Conference on Weights & Measures" (https://www.ncwm.net/committees/profess
ional-development/subcommittee/safety-awareness).
10. "CDFA - Division of Measurement Standards" (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/dms/). www.cdfa.ca.gov.
11. "Kansas Department of Agriculture - Weights and Measures" (https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-
programs/weight-measures). agriculture.ks.gov.
12. "Weights and Measures" (https://mda.maryland.gov/weights_measures/Pages/weights_measure
s.aspx). mda.maryland.gov.
13. "Mass and Force Group" (https://www.nist.gov/pml/quantum-measurement/mass-and-force).
NIST. December 18, 2008.
14. "Weights & Measures" (https://agriculture.ny.gov/weights-measures). Agriculture and Markets.
15. "NCDA&CS - Standards Division" (http://www.ncagr.gov/standard/). www.ncagr.gov.
16. "Ohio Department of Agriculture | Weights & Measures" (https://web.archive.org/web/201711101
44458/http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/weights/weights.aspx). Archived from the original (http://ww
w.agri.ohio.gov/divs/weights/weights.aspx) on 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
17. "Oregon Department of Agriculture: Know Before You Buy" (https://web.archive.org/web/2015030
7085711/http://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/iscp/weightsmeasures/pages/beforeyoubuy.aspx).
Archived from the original (http://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/iscp/weightsmeasures/pages/be
foreyoubuy.aspx) on 2015-03-07.
18. "Measurement Canada" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111117010442/http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/sit
e/mc-mc.nsf/eng/h_lm00013.html). Measurement Canada. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/mc-mc.nsf/eng/h_lm00013.html) on November 17, 2011. Retrieved
October 21, 2010.
19. "Central Weights and Measures Association" (http://www.cwma.net/). Central Weights and
Measures Association. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
20. "Northeastern Weights and Measures Association" (http://newma.us/). Northeastern Weights and
Measures Association. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
21. "Southern Weights and Measures Association" (http://www.swma.org/). Southern Weights and
Measures Association. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
22. "Western Weights and Measures Association" (http://www.westernwma.org/). Western Weights
and Measures Association. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
23. "NIST" (https://web.archive.org/web/20101106140433/http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/pu
bs.cfm). The National Institute of Standards and Technology. Archived from the original (http://ts.
nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/pubs.cfm) on 2010-11-06.
24. "abc News" (https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/fishy-pricing-tactics-10245797). abc News.

External links
National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) (http://ncwm.com/)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/in
dex.cfm)
Measurement Canada (http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/mc-mc.nsf/eng/Home)
International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) (http://www.oiml.org/)
Central Weights and Measures Association (CWMA) (http://www.cwma.net/)
Northeastern Weights and Measures Association (WWMA) (http://www.newma.us/)
Southern Weights and Measures Association (SWMA) (http://www.swma.org/)
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Western Weights and Measures Association (WWMA) (http://www.westernwma.org/)

abc News (https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/fishy-pricing-tactics-10245797)
Reader's Digest (http://www.rd.com/home-garden/how-to-avoid-a-scam/article108831.html)
Seafood Webinar - Good Quality Control Practices (https://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/metric/seafood
-webinar.cfm)
Convenience Store Decisions (http://www.csdecisions.com/2011/03/15/fuel-prices-spur-uptick-in-
consumer-complaints/)
California Department of Food and Agriculture (http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Pre
ss_Release.asp?PRnum=11-006)
Kansas Department of Agriculture (http://www.ksda.gov/news/id/364)

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