All charges are subject to standard VAT unless noted below
BACKGROUND: Between 1981 and 2010, guidance detailing the charges for testing individual items of equipment and registration fees were issued annually by the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) and were the basis for fees in Devon. After the cessation of LACORS in 2011, the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO) provided guidance which Devon followed until this guidance also ceased. With the exception of those set by legislation, Devon now sets its fees independently.
Weights And Measures Act 1985 s74 & s76
| Fee Code | Explanation of charge | Charge 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measuring instruments directive (MID) (2004/22 EC) | |||
| VM1 | INITIAL CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT. Devon is ONLY approved and competent to INITIALLY VERIFY Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments (NAWI) as part of the Trading Standards South West Notified Body. Bookings can be taken for Bulk Fuel Meter Measuring System INITIAL VERIFICATION under MID, but this work will be conducted by South Gloucester Metrology Services. | £141.50ph | Devon is authorised to reverify all classes of equipment covered by MID – No surcharges apply to re-verifications. |
| VM2 | Reverifications of equipment covered by (MID) | Use fees as detailed in sections below | Devon is authorised to reverify all classes of equipment covered by MID – No surcharges apply to re-verifications. |
| Special Weighing and Measuring Equipment | |||
| VSS | Examining, testing, certifying, stamping, authorising or reporting on special weighing or measuring equipment at the place where the service is provided. Such types of equipment, specifically excluded from below, include:
| £141.50ph | No discounts are available |
| Weights (service carried out at County Hall) | |||
| VFF | Weights above 5kg or below 500mg | £14.00 each | If a weight requires adjustment and retesting an additional fee of the same amount will be charged |
| VFF | Weights 500mg to 5kg | £11.50 each | If a weight requires adjustment and retesting an additional fee of the same amount will be charged. |
| Weights and measures Act 1985 S74 & s76 | |||
| VGG | Linear measures not exceeding 3 m, for each scale | £14.00 each | |
| VI1 | Capacity measures, without divisions, not exceeding 1 litre | £12.80 each | |
| VI2 | Cubic ballast measures (other than brim measures) | £141.50ph | ** Discount available for bringing equipment to County Hall, Exeter or Chelston Wellington for testing |
| VI3 | Liquid capacity measures for making up and checking average quantity packages | £141.50ph | |
| Templates | |||
| VTT | Per scale (mm only) – first item See above for templates in millilitres | £141.50ph | To be submitted to County Hall, Exeter for testing |
| Weighing Instruments | |||
| VC1 | Non automatic weighing machines (NAWMS pre 2000): Not exceeding 1 tonne | £141.50ph | **Discount available for bringing equipment to County Hall, Exeter or Chelston Wellington for testing |
| VC2 | Non automatic weighing machines (NAWMS pre 2000) – Exceeding 1 tonne to 10 tonnes | £141.50ph | |
| VC3 | Non automatic weighing machines (NAWMS pre 2000) -Exceeding 10 tonnes | £141.50ph | +++ Weighbridges |
| VD1 | NAWI (post 2000) not exceeding 1 tonne | £141.50ph | **Discount available for bringing equipment to County Hall, Exeter or Cheslton, Wellington for testing |
| VD2 | NAWI (post 2000) -Exceeding 1 tonne to 10 tonnes | £141.50ph | |
| VD3 | NAWI (post 2000) -Exceeding 10 tonnes | £141.50ph | +++ Weighbridges |
| VC4 or VD4 | Testing instruments incorporating remote display or printing facilities, and where completion of the test requires a second person or a second series of tests by the same person, an additional fee may be charged | 50% surcharge | *** Additional costs |
| Weights and measures Act 1985 S74 and S76 – Measuring instruments for intoxicating liquor | |||
| VHH | Not exceeding 150ml | £23.10 each | |
| VHH | Other | £25.00 each | |
| Weights and Measures Act 1985 S74 and S76 – Measuring instruments for liquid fuel and lubricants | |||
| VA1 | Container tyle (not subdivided) | £141.50ph | ** Discount available |
| VA2 | Single/multi-outlets (nozzles) All nozzles tested | £141.50ph | ++ Waiting time |
| VA3 | Testing of credit card acceptor (per unit, regardless of number of slots/nozzles/pumps) | £141.50ph | ++ Waiting time |
| VA4 | Testing of peripheral electronic equipment on a separate visit (per site) | £141.50ph | |
| Weights and measures Act 1985 S74 and S76 – Road tanker fuel measuring equipment (above 100 litres) – Meter measuring systems | |||
| VJ1 | Meter measuring systems testing | Prices available on request from Trading Standards | Work completed by South Gloucestershire Metrology Services in Yate. Will require tanker being transported to Yate for this service. |
| VJ2 | Reseal following broken seals or repair where bulk flow unit not required | £141.50ph | |
| Weights and measures Act 1985 S74 and S76 – Road Tanker fuel measuring equipment (above 100 litres) – Dipstick measuring systems | |||
| VJ3 | Up to 7,600 litres (for calibration of each compartment and production of chart) | Prices available on request from Trading Standards | Work completed by South Gloucestershire Metrology Services in Yate. Will require tanker being transported to Yate for this service. |
| Over 7,600 litres, basic fee above, plus additional charge | Prices available on request from Trading Standards | Work completed by South Gloucestershire Metrology Services in Yate. Will require tanker being transported to Yate for this service. | |
| VJ4 | Initial and spare dipsticks replacement dipstick (including examination of compartment) | Prices available on request from Trading Standards | |
| Weights and measures Act 1985 S74 and S76 – certificate of errors | |||
| VKK | For supplying a certificate containing results of errors found on testing (certificate supplied upon request of the submitter) | £51.50 each | Fee applies when no other fee is payable |
| Weights and measures Act 1985 S74 and S76 – Weighing or measuring equipment or goods submitted for test at the submitter’s request | |||
| VLL | Metric fishing scales and weights | £25.00 each | To be delivered to nearest Trading Standards office |
| VOO | Other equipment or goods – for the examination, testing and report on other equipment or the weighing or measuring of goods | £141.50ph | To be determined on the basis of per officer/hour spent at the place where the service is provided |
| VPP | Services or facilities provided – In pursuance of community obligations by virtue of S76 of the Weights and measures Act 1985 | £141.50ph | To be determined on the basis of per officer/hour spent at the place where the service is provided |
| Weights and measures Act 1985 S74 and S76 – Weights and measures Act 1985, Part 3 | VAT Exempt | ||
| Public weighbridge operator training | £103.00ph | Includes informal training session, provision of examination notes, examination and certification of operator, average time charges is 3 hours, minimum charge of one hour applied. |
Notes on application of fees
† VAT – All fees are quoted are exclusive of VAT.
VAT should be charged unless the work carried out is a statutory requirement. It is only weights and measures equipment that is tested: a) under the Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) Regs 1988 which will be stamped with symbols similar to the following:
or, b) in pursuance of a Community obligation other than a) above that will be exempt from VAT. This is generally equipment brought into prior to 2000 which can not be tested by approved verifiers under NAWI and MID regulations.
* Fee Codes – Please ensure that relevant fee codes are identified on the Test Forms for audit purposes. They also correspond to the coding on APP for entering your visit.
Mileage – Hourly rates can be charged for travel time to the premises where equipment is situated up to a maximum of one hour charged. For Verification or certification work outside normal office hours a surcharge of 50% is applied. The figure should not be entered separately on the form but added to the normal fee. The following should though be stated on the test form: ‘Includes out of hours surcharge’.
** Discounts are available where equipment is submitted for testing at one of our offices. All items will be given a discount of 50% unless stated otherwise. (This is NOT applicable to “Special Weighing and Measuring Equipment”)
*** Additional Costs – When supplying specialist equipment (including but not limited to weighbridge test unit, etc) an additional fee may be charged hourly, daily or per appointment, according to circumstance. This additional charge will not be made if the submitter provides test equipment to the inspector’s satisfaction with a recent test certificate from a Local Authority metrology laboratory or UKAS accredited metrology laboratory.
++ Waiting Time – Where delays in excess of half an hour occur during on site verifications waiting time will be charged, in multiples of half hour at hourly rate fee, if delays are due to (but not solely):
- Engineers being late
- Equipment not being ready for testing
- Delays getting on site
Additionally where a pre-booked appointment is cancelled on the day of the verification 50% a surcharge of the verification fee will be levied.
+++ Weighbridges – the basic fee (VC3 or VD3) must be added to the cost of a day’s hire of the weighbridge unit (or hire of other appropriate equipment). If a weighing machine fails on test, it should be rejected and the submitter given the opportunity to use the weighbridge unit (or the hire of other appropriate equipment) for adjustment and resubmission. A second basic fee may be charged for the second test
Miscellaneous Statutory Fees (VAT exempt except where stated)
| Explanation of charge | Charge 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Fees – Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) Regulations 2016 | These are statutory fees and will remain the same year on year until we are notified of any changes | |
| Duplicate certificate (+ VAT) | £20.00 | Not set by legislation VAT chargeable |
| 0-2,500 Litres | £48.00 | Cost is for each year of licence/certificate |
| 2,500 – 50,000 litres | £65.00 | Cost is for each year of licence/certificate |
| Over 50,000 litres | £137.00 | Cost is for each year of licence/certificate |
| Conveyancing Fees (+ VAT) | £103.00ph | Not set by legislation VAT chargeable |
| Explosive Fees – Explosive regulations 2014 Health and Safety and Nuclear (fees) regulations 2016 | These are statutory fees and will remain the same year on year until we are notified of any changes Licence to store explosives, where no minimum separation distance or a 0 metre minimum separation distance is prescribed (less than 250kg) |
|
| First time application: | ||
| One year duration | £119.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1st September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this Authority. A new application can run for up to five years to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this Service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to two years duration | £154.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1st September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this Authority. A new application can run for up to five years to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this Service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to three years duration | £190.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1st September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this Authority. A new application can run for up to five years to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this Service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to four years duration | £226.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1st September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this Authority. A new application can run for up to five years to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this Service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to five years duration | £260.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1st September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this Authority. A new application can run for up to five years to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this Service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Renewal of licence: | ||
| One year duration | £59.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis |
| Up to two years duration | £94.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis |
| Up to three years duration | £132.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis |
| Up to four years duration | £166.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis |
| Up to five years duration | £202.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis |
| Licence to store explosives, where, by virtue of regulations 27 of, and schedule 5 to, the 2014 regulations, a minimum separation distance of greater than 0 metres is | ||
| First time application: | ||
| One year duration | £202.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1 September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this authority. A new application can run for up to five year to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to two years duration | £266.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1 September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this authority. A new application can run for up to five year to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to three years duration | £333.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1 September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this authority. A new application can run for up to five year to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to four years duration | £409.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1 September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this authority. A new application can run for up to five year to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Up to five years duration | £463.00 | Licences are issued for a period of one year running from 1 September, which is the common renewal date implemented by this authority. A new application can run for up to five year to the common renewal date. If you are making a first time application and wish to apply for a period of over one year please contact this service so that a proportional fee can be calculated. |
| Renewal of licence: | ||
| One year duration | £94.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis. |
| Up to two years duration | £161.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis. |
| Up to three years duration | £226.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis. |
| Up to four years duration | £291.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis. |
| Up to five years duration | £357.00 | Please note that the time limited fees are for whole years. Fees for parts of a year would be on a pro-rata basis. |
Miscellaneous Statutory Fees
| Explanation of charge | Charge 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Explosive fees | VAT exempt | |
| Varying name of licensee or address of site | £40.00 | |
| Any other kind of variation | Price upon application | Equal to the reasonable cost to the licensing authority of having the work carried out |
| Transfer of licence or registration | £40.00 | |
| Replacement of lost licence or registration | £40.00 | |
| The Fireworks (amendment) regulations 2004 | VAT exempt | These are statutory fees and will remain the same year on year until we are notified of any changes |
| Licence to supply fireworks outside of the 4 prescribed periods: One year duration (from date of application) | £500.00 | |
| Animal Feed Fees – The Animal Feed (Hygiene, Sampling Etc. and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2015 | VAT exempt | These are statutory fees and will remain the same year on year until we are notified of any changes |
| Manufacture, or manufacture and placing on the market of animal feed additives referred to in article 10 (1) (a) or (b) of EU regulation 183/2005, other than those additives specified in regulation 2 (4), or of premixtures of such additives | £451.00 | Appropriate applicable fees to be assessed on inspection |
| Placing on the market of substances referred to in article 10 (1) (a) or (b) of EU regulation 183/2005, other than those additives specified in regulation 2 (4), or premixtures of such additives | £226.00 | Appropriate applicable fees to be assessed on inspection |
| Any of the relevant activities referred to in the section headed ‘Facilities and equipment’ | £451.00 | Appropriate applicable fees to be assessed on inspection |
Non Legislative Fees and Charges
| Explanation of charge | Charge 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bespoke or commissioned work from customers | £103.00 ph | |
| Offence reporting costs | VAT exempt | |
| Investigation costs – The hourly rate for investigation costs which can be claimed from persons subject to successful prosecutions | £103.00 ph | In line with other authorities |
| External training provision (VAT exempt except where stated) | ||
| CPCF Metrology Laboratory Training – Metrology students in the Metrology Laboratory | £103.00 ph | In line with other authorities |
| Other courses – Arranged by Devon Trading Standards and made available to non DCC TSOs | No fixed fee | Priced to be announced on a course by course basis, dependant on venue costs, arrangement fees for speakers, refreshment costs and number of delegates. |
| External training for local businesses (+VAT†) | £103.00 ph | Prices to be announced on a course by course basis, dependant on venue costs, arrangement fees for speakers, refreshment costs and number of delegates. |
| Weight hire charges +VAT†) | ||
| Cost per tonne or part thereof – Up to 2 tonne maximum | £140.00 | Minimum 2 day hire. Below 500kg, price on application. Weights available for collection from Chelston, Wellington office. |
Trading Standards ‘Buy With Confidence’ Scheme
| Explanation of charge | Charge 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | ||
| Entity with 1-5 employees | £165.00 | |
| Entity with 6-20 employees | £229.00 | |
| Entity with 21-49 employees | £288.00 | |
| Entity with 50 + employees | POA | |
| Annual membership fees | ||
| Entity with 1-5 employees | £305.00 | |
| Entity with 6-20 employees | £460.00 | |
| Entity with 21-49 employees | £610.00 | |
| Entity with 50 + employees | POA | |
| Additional Premises | £96.00 | |
| Additional Trading Style | £155.00 |
Primary Authority Scheme (VAT exempt)
| Explanation of charge | Current charge 2026/27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First year set-up package (Direct Partnerships) | Price on application, starting from £490 | Set-up costs and initial visit from officer* |
| First year set-up package (Co-ordinated Partnerships) | Price on application, starting from £490 | Set-up costs and initial visit from officer* |
| Starter package (10 hours) | £950.00 | 10 hours of business advice and support** |
| Growth package (25 hours) | £2,250.00 | 25 hours of business advice and support, including enhanced support** |
| Enterprise package (50 hours) | £4,500.00 | 50 hours of business advice and support, including further enhanced support** |
| Additional hours packages for starter and growth packages | £475.00 | Per five hours of additional business advice and support for businesses that use up their Starter or Growth hours during the financial year, but which need further support (if not purchased in multiples of five, rate will revert to standard £103ph PAYG standard rate). |
| Bespoke packages (as agreed) | Discount negotiable on our standard £103 per hour fee | For bespoke packages of more than 50 hours we can offer discounts. The amount of discount will depend on the quantity of hours purchased and the nature of the partnership, although standard rate beyond 50 hours will be £90ph. Trading Standards may also insist on a specific minimum of hours for a bespoke package, based on its assessment of what the business needs to make the partnership viable. Please note, further discounts are not guaranteed. |
| Start-Up Essential package (five hours) | £475.00 | Only available to businesses in first three years of trading, which can only purchase this package once. Provides five hours of focused, bespoke guidance on key compliance areas (e.g. product safety, labelling, pricing, advertising etc.). Purely an advice package, not registered with the Department for Business and Trade as a Primary Authority Partnership. |
* Work subsequent to the initial visit will be charged at our hourly rate of £103 per hour.
** Hours do not roll over into the next financial year.
Find out more
If you need to know more about our Trading Standards service and what they do, visit the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service website.