Sutter County Agriculture Department

Weights and Measures

Trade and Commerce have been at the foundation of every civilization. No society can develop and prosper without its citizens conducting business transactions. No transaction can be conducted to the mutual satisfaction of the parties involved unless each is assured the other is fair and honest. The basis of fair and honest trade is, and always has, rested on the use of accurate weights and measures.

The Department’s Weights & Measures Division is responsible for local enforcement of California Weights & Measures laws and regulations. These laws and regulations were established to provide for a fair and equitable marketplace. The Division performs field activities in the following Weights & Measures programs:

Device Repair *
Weighing & Measuring Devices
Quantity Control
Weighmaster
Petroleum

Truth About TARE

The County Sealer assures equity in the market place by monitoring for measurement errors in both pre-packaged and over-the-counter sales of packaged commodities.

On October 9, 2008, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) eliminated the Wet Tare test method utilized by the California Sealers to determine the net weight of packaged poultry and meat products. The Wet Tare method EXCLUDES the weight of liquid absorbed into packaging material or free flowing in the package when determining net weight. It has been an industry practice to add up to 30 % moisture to packaged meat products.

County Sealers are now required to utilize the Dry Tare method for determining net weight of packaged commodities. This method requires the Sealer to INCLUDE the weight of liquid absorbed into packaging material or free flowing in the package when determining net weight.

The Wet Tare method of determining net weight of meat and poultry packages EXCLUDES the weight of liquid absorbed into packaging material or free flowing in the package.

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