THE METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

M.G.L. pt. Part I, tit. Title XV, ch. c. 99

in effect

M.G.L. c. 99, § 1 Authorization of metric system; carat weight

c. 99, § 1. Authorization of metric system; carat weight Section 1. The weights and measures of the metric system may be employed and used in the commonwealth, and no contract or dealing shall be deemed invalid and no pleading in any court shall be open to objection because the weights or measures are stated therein in terms of the metric system; provided, that the carat weight of two hundred milligrams, and its multiples and subdivisions, shall be the sole legal standard for the buying and selling of diamonds and other precious stones. The metric weights and measures received from the United States and now in the custody of the deputy director of standards may be used as authorized standards, and shall in no case be removed from his custody except when necessary for their preservation or repair.

M.G.L. c. 99, § 2 Tables of weights and measures

c. 99, § 2. Tables of weights and measures Section 2. The tables of weights and measures as set forth in the National Bureau of Standards Miscellaneous Publication, issued December 20, 1960, and titled ''Units of Weight and Measure, Definitions and Tables of Equivalents'', shall be recognized in the construction of contracts and in legal proceedings as establishing in terms of the metric system the equivalents of the other weights and measures expressed therein and may also be used for computing, determining and expressing in customary weights and measures the weights and measures of the metric system.

M.G.L. c. 99, § 3 Deputy director of standards; town sealers of weights and measures; duties

c. 99, § 3. Deputy director of standards; town sealers of weights and measures; duties Section 3. The duties of the deputy director of standards and the duties and responsibilities of the sealer of weights and measures of each town, with respect to the keeping, care, verification and use of the standard weights and measures of the metric system, shall be the same as those established by law with respect to other standard weights and measures.

M.G.L. c. 99, § 4 Verification, adjustment and sealing of metric weights and measures

c. 99, § 4. Verification, adjustment and sealing of metric weights and measures Section 4. The deputy director of standards may verify, adjust and seal all metric weights and measures brought to him for that purpose. The sealer of weights and measures in each town which has received the standard metric weights and measures shall verify, adjust and seal all metric weights and measures brought to him for that purpose from within the county where such town is situated, and he shall receive a reasonable compensation therefor; but he shall claim no fees for any sealing, verification or adjustment for the performance of which he may otherwise receive compensation by salary paid by the town.

M.G.L. c. 99, § 5 Duties of persons using metric system; adjustment and sealing; record

c. 99, § 5. Duties of persons using metric system; adjustment and sealing; record Section 5. Every person who uses weights or measures of the metric system for the purpose of selling any goods, wares, merchandise or other commodities shall have them adjusted, sealed and recorded by an authorized sealer of weights and measures, and shall thereafter be responsible for the correctness and exactness of the same; and every person who illegally or fraudulently uses the metric weights or measures shall be liable to the same penalty to which he would have been liable if he had used other weights and measures.

Source: Massachusetts General Court (malegislature.gov)URL: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter99Fetched: 10/20/2026