CE Marking - MID

Measuring instruments

This Directive ensures the free movement of measuring instruments in the internal market. It guarantees, through the use of CE marking, a high level of confidence through essential specifications which are applicable in all Member States.

ACT

Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on measuring instruments.

SUMMARY

Scope. The directive applies to the measuring instruments defined in the Annexes to the directive:

• water meters;
• gas meters and volume conversion devices
• active electrical energy meters;
• heat meters;
• measuring systems for continuous and dynamic measurement of quantities of liquids other then water;
• automatic weighing instruments;
• taximeters;
• material measures;
• dimensional measuring instruments;
• exhaust gas analysers.

It establishes the essential requirements that the measuring instruments will have to satisfy if they are subject to legal metrological control in a Member State, and the conformity assessment that they have to undergo prior to their placing on the market and putting into use.

Definitions. The directive provides definitions for a "measuring instrument", "sub-assembly" and "legal metrological control".

Essential requirements. The essential requirements are defined in the Annexes to the directive. Annex I establishes the essential requirements which must be met by all measuring instruments, whilst the specific annexes describe the particular requirements which are applicable to the instruments in question.

Conformity marking. The conformity of a measuring instrument with the Directive is indicated by the " CE" conformity marking and the supplementary metrology marking (specified in Article 17).

Placing on the market. Member States shall not impede the placing on the market and putting into use of any measuring instrument that carries the CE conformity marking and supplementary metrology marking.

Assessment of conformity. The assessment of conformity should be carried out by the application, at the choice of the manufacturer, of one of the conformity assessment procedures listed in the specific annex concerning that instrument. The conformity assessment modules which make up the procedures are set out in the Annexes.

Technical documentation. The technical documentation clearly describes the design, manufacturing and operation of the measuring instrument. It should allow for the conformity assessment to be measured against the appropriate provisions of the Directive.

Notification. Member States should notify to the other Member States and the Commission the bodies which they have designated to carry out the tasks pertaining to the conformity assessment. The Commission then publishes the list of bodies notified.

Presumption of conformity. Member States should presume that an instrument conforms with the essential requirements if it complies with the national standards implementing the European harmonised standards in question. The references for these standards are published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Market surveillance. The Member States should monitor their markets and take all appropriate measures to prevent the placing on the market or use of instruments which do not comply. Moreover, Member States should help each other fulfil their obligations regarding market surveillance, in particular by the exchange of information between the competent authorities. A safeguard clause ensures that a measuring instrument bearing the 'CE' marking can be withdrawn from the market if it is established that the instrument does not meet all the essential requirements of the above-mentioned Directive.

Committee. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee whose tasks will be defined by the Directive.

Repeal of previous directives. This Directive repeals these directives:

• Directive 71/318/EEC (gas meters);
• Directive 71/319/EEC (meters for liquids other than water)
• Directive 71/348/EEC (meters for liquids other than water - ancillary equipment);
• Directive 73/362/EEC (material measures of length);
• Directive 75/33/EEC (cold water meters);
• Directive 75/410/EEC (continuous totalising weighing machines);
• Directive 76/891/EEC (electrical energy meters);
• Directive 77/95/EEC (taximeters);
• Directive 77/313/EEC (measuring systems for liquids other than water);
• Directive 78/1031/EEC (automatic checkweighing and weight grading machines);
• Directive 79/830/EEC (hot-water meters).

Directive 75/33/EEC (cold water meters) is a special case as it has only been partially repealed for meters defined in Annex MI-001 of the new Directive (for clean water meters, for example in residential areas, commercial or light industrial use).

Transposal into national law by the Member States. The Member States should transpose the above-mentioned Directive into national law before 30 April 2006. These measures will be applied from 30 October 2006. Transitional measures can be applied to instruments which comply with the rules which are applicable before 30 October 2006 for a maximum period of 10 years.

Review clause. Before 30 April 2011 the Commission will produce a report on the implementation of the Directive and will propose amendments if necessary.

REFERENCES

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2004/22/EC[adoption: codecisionCOD/2000/0233]	30.04.2004	30.04.2006	OJ L 135 of 30.04.2004

Last updated: 16.05.2007