Legal metrology

Legal metrology ensures that measuring instruments used in the economy and in the field of public safety conform to laws and regulations .

The development of laws and regulations and metrological verifications are the main aspects of legal metrology.

Metrological verifications are carried out at several stages; from the design and manufacture of the measuring instruments, to the functioning of the measuring instruments in service.

The role of the FPS Economy

The role of the FPS Economy in legal metrology:

• to develop and update laws and regulations and to ensure that legislation and regulatory texts are suitable for the needs of society both domestically and internationally;
• to prevent non-compliant instruments from entering the market and coming into service ;
• to commence and carry out an annual inspection programme:
  • of the measuring instruments in service;
  • regarding the prepackaging by weight or volume of prepackaged products;
  • prior to the approval of games of chance;
• exercise close supervision of the services offered by the inspection bodies (PDF, 22.27 Kb) [only available in French] duly authorised to operate in this field under the statutory delegation system.

Some legal metrology services are delivered by authorized inspection bodies for:

• weighing instruments; 
• list of authorized inspection bodies for weighing instruments (PDF, 22.27 Kb) [only available in French];
• measurements of liquids other than water (fuel pumps etc.).