What are the acceptable filling tolerances and compliance standards for 125ml canned products in the UK?

UK filling tolerances for 125ml cans are governed by the Weights and Measures Act 2006. Members report the following practical guidance:

- **Tolerance range**: +/− 5g per can is typical for small-batch, manually-checked production, though each canning line operates differently—consult your co-packer on what their equipment can achieve. - **Statistical allowance**: For 125ml, one in 40 cans is permitted to be 4.5% short; effectively, no more than 9% of cans should fall below nominal fill. - **Average vs. minimum requirements**: Trading Standards require either an average of 125ml or just above across the batch (depending on your canner's method). Check with your specific co-packer whether they use average-fill or minimum-fill compliance. - **Revenue implications**: Avoid overfilling significantly; HMRC monitors for systematic overfill as it represents lost excise revenue on spirits and may trigger audit. - **Regulatory reference**: Consult the UK government guidance on Weights, Measures and Packaging at https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law/packaged-goods - **US comparison (FYI)**: The US tolerance is approximately +/− 2% of printed size, which is tighter than the UK allowance.

**Caveats**: Each canning line has different capabilities; discuss feasibility directly with your co-packer before committing to a tolerance target.