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Missouri Scale Certification & Weights and Measures

✓ Verified from official sources — July 11, 2026

Missouri runs a state-managed weights and measures program — commercial scale owners deal with the state agency directly. If you operate a commercial scale in Missouri — at a warehouse, farm, recycling yard, retail store, or truck stop — here is who regulates it, what the law requires, and exactly who to contact.

Who inspects commercial scales in Missouri?

State-run program: the division's state inspectors (14 for small scales under 1,000 lb capacity and 6 for large scales such as livestock, vehicle and grain hopper scales) annually test and certify all commercial weighing devices statewide. Scale owners contact the Device and Commodity Inspection Program in Jefferson City.

What Missouri requires of scale owners

Owners do not register devices; the state annually inspects and certifies each commercial device (per NIST Handbook 44) and applies an approval seal, with inspection fees collected under 2 CSR 90-24. If a device is rejected, only a weights and measures official or an MDA-registered service technician may place it back in service; service companies and technicians must register with MDA and file Placed-In-Service Reports.

Devices used to buy or sell by weight must comply with NIST Handbook 44 — in practice this means an NTEP-certified, legal-for-trade scale. Confirm requirements for your device class with the office listed here.

Getting a scale into service — 4 steps

  1. Buy a legal-for-trade (NTEP-certified) scale appropriate for your application and capacity.
  2. Confirm registration and licensing requirements with the Missouri Department of Agriculture ((573) 751-4316 (division); (573) 751-5639 (Device & Commodity Program); (573) 751-4278 (consumer complaint hotline)) before the scale enters commercial use.
  3. Arrange compliant installation and calibration. Where required, placing-in-service must be done by a licensed or registered service company.
  4. Stay compliant. Pass required inspections, keep calibration current, retain service records.

Common questions

Who certifies commercial scales in Missouri?
State-run program: the division's state inspectors (14 for small scales under 1,000 lb capacity and 6 for large scales such as livestock, vehicle and grain hopper scales) annually test and certify all commercial weighing devices statewide. Scale owners contact the Device and Commodity Inspection Program in Jefferson City.
What does Missouri require of scale owners?
Owners do not register devices; the state annually inspects and certifies each commercial device (per NIST Handbook 44) and applies an approval seal, with inspection fees collected under 2 CSR 90-24. If a device is rejected, only a weights and measures official or an MDA-registered service technician may place it back in service; service companies and technicians must register with MDA and file Placed-In-Service Reports.
What is NTEP certification?
NTEP certifies that a scale model meets NIST Handbook 44 standards for commercial use. An NTEP Certificate of Conformance is the standard requirement for legal-for-trade devices across the U.S.
Where do I find official forms and fees?
Use the licensing and forms links in the office panel, or contact the office directly — fee schedules change and some are published only in application documents.

Need calibration, repair, or installation in Missouri?

Send one request — ScaleRegistry routes it to qualified service providers for your state.

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Sources: agriculture.mo.gov/weights/ | agriculture.mo.gov/weights/device/scales.php