With respect to weights and measures, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall have the following duties:

(1) To try and prove by the state standards, at least once in five years, all weights, measures, and other apparatus which may belong to any county or city and shall seal such when found to be accurate, stamping on them the letter “A” and the last two figures of the year with seals which he or she shall have and keep for that purpose.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 8-16-6

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • year: means a calendar year; but, whenever the word "year" is used in reference to any appropriations for the payment of money out of the treasury, it shall mean fiscal year. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(2) To have and keep a general supervision of the weights, measures, and weighing and measuring devices offered for sale, sold, or in use in the state.
(3) Upon the written request of any citizen, firm, corporation, or educational institution in the state, to test or calibrate weights, measures, weighing, or measuring devices, and instruments or apparatus used as standards in this state.
(4) To assure that at least once annually all scales, weights, and measures used in checking the receipts and disbursements of supplies in every institution for the maintenance of which moneys are appropriated by the Legislature are inspected, and report in writing his or her findings through the supervisory board and to the executive officer of the institution concerned. At the request of such board or executive officer, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall appoint in writing one or more employees then in the actual service of each institution who shall act as special deputy or deputies, without extra compensation, for the purpose of checking the receipts and disbursements of supplies.
(5) To include a report of the work done by his or her office in his or her general report to the State Board of Agriculture and Industries.
(6) To inspect all standards and apparatus used by the counties and cities at least once in five years and shall keep a record of the same.
(7) At least once in five years, to visit the various cities and counties of the state in order to inspect the work of the local sealers of weights and measures.
(8) To issue from time to time regulations for guidance for city and county sealers, and the regulations shall govern the procedure to be followed by these officers in the discharge of their duties.