Informative Documents
INFO 2-001, 2016: Language Information For Weighing Instruments
SUMMARY
This document contains information about markings and legends that are commonly used in member countries. The list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive. Alternatives may be required to be used.
Unless otherwise stated, the English version of each publication should be taken as the official version.
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INFO 05-001, 2019: Screening Project on NAWI with Point of Sale Devices
Summary
This document contains the outcome of a joint action project on non-automatic weighing instrument with a point of sale devices used for direct sale to the public on different locations to determine compliance with the requirements of Directive 2014/31/EU. The joint action was performed by six market surveillance authorities
The aim of this project was to verify that these weighing instruments fulfil the specific regulation at a European level (market surveillance) and to get more knowledge and experience about this kind of instruments by the market surveillance authorities. The outcome of the project is that most of the 449 inspected measuring instruments were correct, however there is room for improvement with regard to metrological performance and formal aspects as Declaration of Conformity and the use of the correct software version.
More detailed information can be found in Report 2019 Screening Project on NAWI with Point of Sale Devices (2019).
Unless otherwise stated, the English version of each publication should be taken as the official version.
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INFO 05-002, 2020: Screening Project for Market Surveillance of NAWI for Medical Use
Summary
This document contains the outcome of a joint action project on non-automatic weighing instruments (NAWI) used for the medical weighing of patients to determine compliance with the requirements of 2009/23/EU or 2014/31/EU (NAWI Directive). This joint action was performed by ten market surveillance authorities and was a combination of market surveillance and inspection in use. The objective of this operation was to verify that medical weighing instruments for patients fulfil the specific regulation at a European level (market surveillance). The study was intended to broaden the knowledge base of the risks of NAWI’s used for patient weighing in the European Union in medical settings. This project focused on patient weighing scales, bed weighing instruments and chair weighing instruments used in oncology centres and baby weighing instruments used in paediatrics. The 208 inspected measuring instruments that were included in this project were placed on the market within the last ten years.
69% of the NAWI’s that were inspected as part of this project passed all tests.
More detailed information can be found in Report project on NAWIs used for the medical weighing of patients (2020).
Unless otherwise stated, the English version of each publication should be taken as the official version.
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INFO 05-003, 2020: Project for Market Surveillance of Water Meters (2019 – 2020)
Summary
This document contains the outcome of a market surveillance joint action project on water meters to determine compliance with the requirements of 2014/32/EU (MI Directive). These meters are installed all around the European Union and are mandatory for billing proposes in most of them, so the presence and installation of water meters that do not comply with the MID could
have a tremendous impact on the consumer confidence in the control system, severely damaging the regional, national, and European institutions involved in consumer protection and market surveillance. This joint action was performed by seven market surveillance authorities. The results of the 17 tested water meters is that 47 percent only passed all tests. Formal aspects of non-compliances found in 8 water meters, 1 water meter failed the determination of intrinsic errors test and 1 water meter was sealed in a way not approved by notified body. Manufacturers on a voluntary base corrected all non-conformities found. No mandatory action was needed in any of the cases. As an outcome, there are recommendations for manufacturers and notified bodies.
More detailed information can be found in Report Project for Market Surveillance of Water Meters (2019 – 2020).
Unless otherwise stated, the English version of each publication should be taken as the official version.
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INFO 05-007, 2023 Fuel dispensers – joint action screening project
Summary
Between June 2020 and November 2022, eleven market surveillance authorities from eight Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey carried out a joint action in the field of fuel dispensers used in petrol stations to check if they fulfilled the Measuring Instruments Directive (Directive 2014/32/EU). This market surveillance action consisted of a full evaluation control including the performance of some tests on the field and was a combination of market surveillance and inspection in use. Fifty-three dispensers were examined during the project, corresponding to nine different models of equipment, fifty of which were subjected to the accuracy tests, while the remaining three only passed some general controls.
Even though of the fifty-three fuel dispensers that were examined eleven (21%) presented some non-conformity, the general impression of the market surveillance authorities after completion of this joint activity is that the fuel dispensers on the EEA market are functioning properly and, apart from minor defects of a formal nature, mainly associated with their operating software, comply with the applicable European harmonization regulation.
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INFO 6-001, 2016: Overview of the Food Information Regulation Impact on Prepackages
SUMMARY
This document contains information about the impact of food information regulation on prepackages
Unless otherwise stated, the English version of each publication should be taken as the official version.
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INFO 6-002, 2017: Deceptive Packaging
SUMMARY
This document contains information about deceptive packaging.
NOTES
There are several pieces of legislation that require the minimisation of packaging and that packaging should not mislead. This document notes these requirements and summarises some standards, which if followed, will assist in meeting the requirements.
Unless otherwise stated, the English version of each publication should be taken as the official version.
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INFO 05-04, 2022: Weighing bridges – joint action screening project
Summary
The project regards non-automatic weighing instruments of class III or IIII used in the industry, in trade, and by the services sector (weighing bridges). The main aim of this project is the determination of compliance with the requirements of 2014/31/EU.
The weighing bridges inspection in use screening project was carried out as a joint action of countries cooperating in WELMEC WG5. The main aim of this operation was to verify that weighing bridges fulfil the specific regulations at a European level.
In total, 82 Non-automatic weighing instruments were inspected in this project with an overall 82 percent pass rate. In six participating countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland and Switzerland), the pass rate was estimated between 25 % and 100 %. The project coordination has been carried out by Poland.
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INFO 05-05, 2022: Pharmaceutical Weighing - joint action screening project
Summary
The project regards non-automatic weighing instruments used in pharmacies in the European Union. The main aim of this project is the determination of compliance with the requirements of 2009/23/EU or 2014/31/EU (NAWI Directive).
The inspection in use screening project was a combination of market surveillance and inspection in use and was carried out as a joint action of countries cooperating in WELMEC WG5. This project on pharmaceutical non automatic weighing instruments (NAWI’s), i.e. NAWI’s intended to be used for determination of mass for
1. making up medicines on prescription in a pharmacy and determination, and
2. analyses carried out in medical and pharmaceutical laboratories.
Inspections are almost all performed on location in high street pharmacies. In total, 231 Non-automatic weighing instruments used in pharmacies were inspected with an overall 74 % pass rate; visual compliance 83% and metrological compliance 82 %. In six participating countries (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey), the pass rate was estimated between 52 % and 100 %.
Individual countries to address detected non-compliance in accordance with their national legislation and procedures. In all cases were a non-noncompliance was detected the pharmacy operators were instructed to take the necessary actions to bring them back into compliance, which means either to replace the instrument by a new one, or to repair followed with reverification.
The project coordination has been carried out by Ireland.
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INFO 05-06, 2022: Household gas meters – joint action market surveillance project
Summary
The joint action market surveillance project regards household gas meters used in the European Union. The main aim of this project is the determination of compliance with the requirements of 2014/32/EU Measurement Instrument Directive (MID).
These meters are installed all around the Common Market and are mandatory for billing proposes so the presence and installation of gas meters that don’t comply with the MID could have a tremendous impact on the consumer confidence in the control system, severely damaging the regional, national and European institutions involved in consumer protection and market surveillance.
This project included the performance of laboratory tests and for this received financial support by WELMEC Committee.
A market surveillance action consisted of different levels of control depending on the approach used by the market surveillance authority. This varied from a formal check or document check to a full evaluation.
Nine different types of meters of eight different manufacturers were examined and tested in the Landesbetrieb Mess-und Eichwesen NRW laboratory. Eight of them were size G4 and the other one was G6.Their accuracy class was, in all cases, 1,5. Seven of the meter types examined measured the volume at metering conditions, while the other two did that with temperature and pressure conversion. Concerning the conformity assessment procedure used to put them into the market, all of them had undergone a module B + module D. In this particular case, the market surveillance action consisted in a full evaluation control including the performance of some tests in a laboratory.
Of the nine gas meter types that were examined, only two presented some non-conformity and, in both cases, it was a formal one. All the meters tested passed the metrological tests in the laboratory successfully, so no mayor problems were detected during the project.
It must be mentioned that even though the nine meter types examined were produced by eight different manufacturers and had different EU-type examination certificates, some of this EU-type examination certificates had exactly the same images and drawings. This suggests that some of them are exactly the same meter type produced by only one original manufacturer but put into the market under different brands.
The project coordination has been carried out by Switzerland, Slovenia and Spain.
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