Demonstrating the compliance of measuring instruments

The manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers and distributors of measuring instruments are responsible for ensuring that a measuring instrument intended for purposes referred to in the Measuring Instruments Act complies with the requirements of the Act.

The party using the measurement results is responsible for ensuring that the measuring instrument used for purposes stated in the Measuring Instruments Act complies with the requirements.

Design and manufacture

The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring the conformity of the product. Depending on the requirements of the device-specific regulations, notified bodies or inspection bodies can, for example, perform a type examination on a measuring instrument and verify it, or approve the quality control procedures used by the manufacturer.

The requirements on measuring instruments come either from directives or national requirements. As a manufacturer, importer or dealer, you must be familiar with the requirements.

The requirements on the design and manufacture of measuring instruments consist of the requirements laid down in the device-specific regulations and standards or standard recommendations. Measuring instruments must be verified and suitable for their intended purpose.

Take the requirements on the structure and markings of measuring instruments already into account in their design. By cooperating with Tukes and the inspection bodies, you can avoid faulty solutions.

Manufacturers, importers and dealers have their responsibilities

Companies carry many responsibilities in the manufacturing of measuring instruments, their sale in EU countries, their import and distribution. For their part, the manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers and distributors of measuring instruments are responsible for the conformity of the measuring instruments they sell. The companies must identify and be aware of their obligations in demonstrating the compliance of measuring instruments. You can find more information about the responsibilities related to the companies’ roles here.

The party using the measurement results is responsible for the use

If you use the measurement results in your business activities, for example, you are responsible for ensuring that the measuring instrument you use is compliant with the requirements and suitable for the purpose. You are also responsible for ensuring that the use of the measuring instrument is monitored and that its reliability is verified regularly.

The EU does not regulate the use of measuring instruments; it is regulated on a national level.

Scales and other measuring instruments compliant with the directives

The requirements on the manufacturing of measuring instruments, their sale in EU countries and their commissioning have mainly been harmonised within the economic area of the EU.

The EU has set requirements on the following measuring instruments used for the purposed described in the Measuring Instruments Act:

NAWI Directive:

non-automatic scales

Measuring Instruments Directive:

water meters
gas meters and volume conversion devices
active electrical energy meters
thermal energy meters
measuring systems for the continuous and dynamic measurement of quantities of liquids other than water
automatic weighing instruments
taximeters
material measures
dimensional measuring instruments
exhaust gas analysers

A notified body must always be used to demonstrate the compliance of these measuring instruments in accordance with the procedures described in the directives, with the exception of Module A2 permitted for capacity serving measures. From among the modules described in the directives, manufacturers can select the procedures that suit their own production the best.

In the EU area, the procedures of product directives are followed in the manufacturing and sale of measuring instruments; a general description can be found here.

Measuring instrument modules by instrument category

Measuring Instruments Directive MID	A2	B+D	B+E	B+F	D1	E1	F1	G	H	H1
MI-001 Water meters		x		x						x
MI-002 Gas meters		x		x						x
MI-003 Active electrical energy meters		x		x						x
MI-004 Thermal energy meters		x		x						x
MI-005 Measuring systems for liquids other than water		x		x				x		x
MI-006 Automatic weighing instruments
mechanical systems		x	x	x	x		x	x		x
electromechanical instruments		x	x	x				x
electronic systems or systems containing software		x	x					x		x
MI-007 Taximeters		x		x						x
MI-008 Material measures
Material measures of length		x			x		x	x	x
Capacity serving measures	x	x	x		x	x	x		x
MI-009 Dimensional measuring instruments
mechanical and electromechanical instruments		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
electronic instruments or instruments containing software		x		x				x		x
MI-010 Exhaust gas analysers		x		x						x
NAWI Directive
Non-automatic weighing instruments		x		x				x
weighing instruments which do not use electronic devices					x		x	x
weighing instruments, the load-measuring device of which does not use a spring to balance the load					x		x	x

Valid directives

Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) 2014/32/EU
NAWI Directive (NAWID) 2014/31/EU
Pre-packaged products 76/211/EEC
Measuring container bottles 75/107/EEC
Units of Measurement Directive 80/181/EEC
Basic Directive 2009/34/EC on the methods of metrological control of measuring instruments, old procedure

Nationally regulated measuring instruments

The EU regulations do not cover all measuring instruments used for purposes regulated by the Measuring Instruments Act. The compliance of such measuring instruments must be indicated by a national approval. The technical requirements are derived from OIML recommendations, if such have been published.

Requirements for different measuring instruments:

compressed gaseous fuel measuring systems for vehicles	OIML R 139
weights	OIML R 111
road tankers	OIML R 80-1
measures used at open-air marketplaces	national requirements
beer and cider taps	national requirements