Requirements on scales vary depending on the purpose of use
You are responsible for ensuring that the scales you use fulfil the requirements of the Finnish Measuring Instruments Act, when you use the scales’ weighing results for one of the purposes listed below:
- determining the price based on the weighing result in direct sales to customers
- checking the quantity contained in the package in manufacturing pre-packaged products
- determining the price of a product or service or another financial benefit in business
- determining the amount of customs duty, transport charge, tax, reimbursement, fine, remuneration, compensation or other similar charge
- enforcement of laws and decrees as well as expert statements given in a trial
- weighing patients in health care in order to monitor their condition and diagnose and treat the illness
- in pharmacies, manufacturing medications based on a recipe and determining mass for analyses carried out in clinical and pharmaceutical laboratories.
The requirements of the law are fulfilled, when you use appropriately verified scales that comply with the requirements of the directives. Non-automatic scales, such as ordinary shop scales, must comply with the requirements of the NAWI Directive 2014/31/EU. Automatic scales must comply with the requirements of the Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU.
Legislation
Measuring Instruments Act 707/2011
Government Decree on Measuring Instruments 471/2014
Government Decree on Non-Automatic Scales 1431/2016
Government Decree on Essential Requirements, Demonstration of Compliance and Specific Technical Requirements of Measuring Instruments 1432/2016
Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU (MID)
Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Directive 2014/31/EU (NAWID)
Council Directive 76/211/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making-up by weight or by volume of certain prepackaged products
Council Directive 75/107/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to bottles used as measuring containers
Council Directive 80/181/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement
Directive 2009/34/EC relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control