Country Information

Finland's history in legal metrology dates back to the time when Finland was a part of Sweden. A unifying measuring system was introduced in the 17th century. The metric system came into force in 1886 and type approval Regulations were introduced in the 1920s.

Legal metrology in Finland is based on the Act on Measuring Instruments issued in 2011. This act is supplemented by Decree on Measuring Instruments (covers the MID), Decree on Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments (covers the NAWID) and Decree on Measuring Instruments in Service and also by other regulations.

The Ministry of Employment and the Economy is the regulatory body for the field of legal metrology.

Tukes (The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency), formed in 1995, is responsible for the supervision and enforcement of legal metrology legislation. As the recognised expert authority, Tukes coordinates with and contributes to national and international cooperation. Tukes also provides information for consumers and entrepreneurs as well as initiating and participating in the research on issues relating to legal metrology. In-service inspection is carried out by Tukes in cooperation with the Regional State Administrative Agencies. Tukes is also the responsible authority for market surveillance of non-automatic weighing instruments, NAWIs, and measuring instruments under the MID. Tukes reports to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

Notified Bodies for NAWI directive and the MID are appointed by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. Competence of the Notified Bodies is verified by accreditation.

Inspecta Tarkastus Oy is notified body (NB 0424) for the NAWI directive and for several modules for measuring instruments in MID annexes MI-001, MI-003, MI-005, MI-006, MI-007, MI-008 and MI-009.

Reverifications of measuring instruments are performed by approved inspection bodies. For nationally regulated measuring instruments, type approval tasks and initial verification are also performed approved inspection bodies. Performing reverifications of measuring instruments and type approvals according to national legislation was opened up to competition in 1998. Competent organisations have to apply to Tukes for a permit prior to commencing their activities. They are also regularly supervised by Tukes. Within a transitional period all inspection bodies have to hold accreditation. Sub-contracted accredited test laboratories, may perform specific tests, such as EMC testing. At the time of writing there are four competing inspection bodies:

• DEKRA Industrial Oy performs verifications of road tanks and measuring systems for liquids other than water.
• Inspecta Tarkastus Oy acts as a notified body for non-automatic weighing instruments and the MID (NB 0424) and has the competence over an extensive range of verifications and type approvals (national and EC –type approvals). It also provides calibration services. Inspecta Tarkastus Oy, the former Technical Inspection Centre, was a State owned company until 2002 when it was sold to a private ownership.
• PME Control Oy concentrates on liquids other than water especially at oil terminals and more recently on NAWIs
• THT-Tarkastus Oy concentrates on fuel dispensers.

MIKES (The Centre for Metrology and Accreditation) is responsible for the national measurement standards system. Within MIKES, there is also the independent accreditation service, FINAS, which is intended for calibration and testing laboratories as well as inspection and certification bodies.

• Simple length measures
• Other material measures of length
• Length measuring instruments
• Material measures of area
• Area measuring instruments
• Volume measures
• Capacity serving measures and transfer measurers
• Liquid volume metering instruments
  • Petroleum
  • Bulk milk
  • Lubricating oil
  • Heating oil
  • Alcoholic beverages, including spirits, beer and cider
• Road tankers
• Lubrication oil meters
• Cold water meters
• Gas meters
• Electricity meters
• Heat meters
• Weights
• Non-automatic weighing instruments
• Automatic weighing instruments
  • Continuous totalising instruments
  • Discontinuous totalising instruments
  • Gravimetric filling instruments
  • Rail-weigh bridges
  • Catchweighers
    • Checkweigher
    • Weight graders
  • Weigh/price labellers and price labellers
• Instruments for measuring the hectolitre mass of cereals
• Taximeters

In most cases instruments are subject to conformity assessment according to the MID or NAWI directive and periodical reverification. In case of nationally regulated measuring instruments type approval, initial verification and mandatory reverification are usually required.

Finland operates a mandatory reverification system with intervals specified in legislation:

• Meters and measuring systems for fuels: 2 years
• All other instruments: 3 years

Throughout Finland, there are approximately 20 verification personnel. Annually there are about 30 000 instrument reverifications carried out.

Tukes also performs assessment and provides permissions for service and repair workshops to seal an instrument following repair. The instrument with an approved seal may then be used until the next reverification is due.

Tukes has overall responsibility of in service surveillance and it coordinates the actions of the 6 Regional States Agencies. Tukes and the regional authorities survey regularly that measuring instruments in use comply with legal requirements. If the instrument fails to do so, authorities may restrict or forbid its further use or impose an administrative fine. Using a non-complying measuring instrument is an offence and may lead on to a fine.

Tukes is the responsible authority for market surveillance on non-automatic weighing instruments and measuring instruments covered by the MID.

In Finland all MI-annexes are implemented. For electrical meters and heat meters used in Finland there are some specific requirements regarding meter classes to be used for different purposes, e.g. residential use or use in light industry.

For the NAWIs there are requirements for instrument classes designated for particular applications:

• class (II) instruments required in pharmacies and also in trade with precious metals
• class (IIII) instruments are permitted for the determination of toll, freight and transportation charges
• in other cases class (III) instruments are applied

Finland does not have defined gravity zones for weighing instruments. Verified instruments can be moved from the intended place of use when applying the following rules:

• class (IIII) instruments, when verified for Finland, may be moved throughout the country
• class (III) instruments with the number of scale intervals n ≤ 3000 may be moved at most 200 km from the intended place of use in a north-south direction
• class (III) instruments with 3000 < n ≤ 5000 may be moved at most 100 km from the intended place of use in a north-south direction

In Finland an acceptable alternative method, which takes into account the local gravity value, is described in WELMEC Guide No. 2.

Enforcement Authority for Legal Metrology:
Tukes (Safety and Chemicals Agency)
Chief Engineer Tuomo Valkeapää
PO Box 66 (Opastinsilta 12 B), 0521 HELSINKI
Phone: +358 10 6052 000
Fax: +358 10 6052 590
www.tukes.fi

Notified Body for Conformity Assessments According to MID and NAWI, Inspection Body for Type Approvals and Verifications:
Inspecta Tarkastus Oy
PL 113 (Porkkalankatu 13 G), 00181 Helsinki
Phone: +358 10 521 600
Fax: +358 10 521 6211
www.inspecta.fi

Inspection body for verification of Road tankers and Measuring instruments and systems for liquids:
DEKRA Industrial Oy
PL 41 (Laajaniityntie 3), 01620 Vantaa
Phone: +358 9 878 020387 843
Fax: +358 9 878 6653
www.dekra.fi

Inspection body for verification of measuring systems for liquids other than water and class III NAWIs:
PME-Control Oy
Luhtatie 4 A 3, 66300 Jurva
Phone: +358 400 162 165
www.pme-control.com

Inspection body for verification of fuel dispensers:
THT-Tarkastus Oy
Pikkukorventie 9, 37150 Nokia
puh. (03) 342 6412, fax (03) 342 6440