A compliance blitz on fruit and vegetable retailers this week will help ensure Australian consumers are getting exactly what they pay for at the checkout.

Trade Measurement Inspectors from the National Measurement Institute (NMI) will be out in force across the country to make sure systems, such as scales used to weigh produce, are reliable and accurate.

The audit is part of NMI’s annual compliance activities, which are designed to help ensure Australian consumers are not being overcharged for their purchases at the counter and that small businesses also get what they pay for in their supply chains.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said protecting consumers at the checkout was particularly important given the cost-of-living pressures being felt across the community.

“Inaccurate trade measurements, be they accidental or deliberate, can affect value for money, so the National Measurement Institute will be working with retailers to ensure they comply with trade measurement practices,” Minister Husic said.

“This is also about ensuring small retail businesses get a fair go when they purchase produce from suppliers.”

Between 17 and 21 October, NMI will inspect about 500 fruit and vegetable retailers nationally, checking that customers are not being overcharged.

This includes up to 500 random ‘undercover’ purchases, inspection of up to 7500 pre-packaged fruit and vegetable lines and testing up to 1000 instruments.

Minister Husic said it was the first of three ‘compliance blitzes’ that would be carried out nationally by NMI this financial year.

Subsequent audits will target meat, fish and poultry, and delicatessens and smallgoods retailers.

“Australia has an estimated trillion dollars’ worth of economic activity that involves trade measurement,” Minister Husic said.

“NMI’s compliance activities play a vital role in helping both businesses and consumers make informed buying decisions.”

NMI is Australia’s peak measurement body responsible for biological, chemical, legal, physical and trade measurement.