Measuring Instruments Directive 2004/22/EC

• Regulations come into force in the UK on 30 October 2006.
• This is consumer protection legislation; regulations only apply only regulated measuring instruments [including any issued free of charge].
• Sub-meters used only for internal company use are not covered.
• From 30/10/2006 instruments approved in one EU country against appropriate EN standards can be supplied and used in other EU countries without further testing or approval. This will presumably give manufacturers an option as to where to gain approval [lowest cost? easiest?].
• Existing products already certified in the UK can be sold and used in the UK until the end of their certification period but no later than 30 October 2016.
• The UK overseeing body is the DTI but the essential metrology and testing is carried out by National Weights and Measures www.nwml.gov.uk [responsibility for metrology issues has already been passed from OFGEM to NWML - OFGEM concentrate on policy and regulation].
• There are 10 categories of instrument 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.
• In the UK the requirements are being put into law as a series of Statutory Instruments [within the power of Ministers to approve]. To date in our area only cold-water meters have been defined [SI 2006/1268]. Gas and electricity meters are under development. So far Heat Meters have not been mentioned!

UK and EU References

Acknowledgment

ESTA
PO Box 77
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Essex SS7 5EX
T: 07041 492049 ) calls charged at standard national rates
F: 07041 492050 ) and mobiles at network rates