Directive 2014/32/EU, Measuring Instruments (MID): conformity assessment to ensure that instruments intended to take measurements having legal effect comply with specific metrological requirements

The Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) applies to measuring instruments for taking measurements that have legal effect, for the purpose of harmonising the requirements that these instruments must meet in order to be eligible for sale in the European Union.

The requirements relate to metrological performance, physical and mechanical characteristics and legal obligations. The purpose of the directive is to protect the market and consumers, who are the everyday users of the measurements taken with these instruments.

The directive gives manufacturers the opportunity to design and manufacture measuring instruments, according to different modules, described in the annexes to the directive, and depending on the complexity of the instrument and its suitability for direct inspection by the manufacturer. Whereas the design phase always requires the intervention of a notified body, which assesses the design’s conformity with the requirements of the directive, in the production phase, the manufacturer can self-certify that the products meets the specifications approved by the notified body in the design phase, provided it has a suitable quality management system covering the production phase.

In the latter case, the notified body does not carry out direct inspections on the instruments produced, but instead audits the quality management system covering the production phase.
Under the requirements of the directive, the instrument in question must bear CE marking, the supplementary metrological mark “M” and the last two digits of its year of manufacture.

The instrument must be accompanied by a declaration of conformity, in which the manufacturer takes responsibility for declaring that the instrument is in line with the requirements of the MID directive. In certain cases, this declaration may relate to a batch of products (e.g. utility meters) rather than an individual instrument.

Support provided by IMQ in its capacity as notified body CE 0051 for the MID directive

As a notified body for category MI-003 (active electrical energy meters), IMQ can undertake the following conformity assessment procedures:

EU type-examination
Quality System approval on the basis of annexes D and H1
Design examination on the basis of annex H1
Production verification on the basis of annex F
It can also provide the following services:
Technical and regulatory support for correct application of the directive
Support with Quality System assessment
Basic metrological training and training in the requirements of the directive
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Other services

In relation to meters and fiscal measurements, IMQ is an inspection body authorised to carry out in-system checks of active electrical energy meters and measuring systems (meters, current transformers and voltage transformers) used for fiscal purposes, and laboratory testing of active electrical energy meters prior to installation for tax purposes following authorisation by the Customs Agency.

IMQ also carries out periodic verification of active electrical energy meters in accordance with the requirements of Ministerial Decree 93/2017, as a body accredited by Unioncamere (ID No. 295).

Management system certification is the endorsement enjoyed by organisations that have chosen to equip themselves with efficient management systems and suitable skills and structures, aimed at continuous improvement. And the higher the prestige of the awarding body, the higher the value of the guarantee. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, our laboratories have full capability to put products through all the checks required by the major European directives and international standards. The certifications issued by IMQ are synonymous with trust. They guarantee safety, performance, efficiency and quality standards. More than 10,000 companies have turned to IMQ to certify their products and stand out on the market. Notified body for the main EU directives, IMQ offers tests and CE certifications to assess the conformity of the products to the requirements required to be marketed on the European market. Inspections and audits validate the conformity of electrical installations, equipment, supplies and services with the applicable technical and legislative specifications. IMQ is leader in Europe in the conformity assessment activity, technical partner chosen by Ministries and Authorities for market control purposes. IMQ is a brand recognized by the market as a synonym of safety and quality, and an internationally recognized partner, a valued member of the main international regulatory work groups. All IMQ personnel are required to strictly observe professional secrecy. IMQ has been working for 70 years trying to anticipate the future, to make the present safer.