These Regulations implement Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on measuring instruments (OJNo. L 135, 30.4.04, p1) “the Directive” in relation to those measuring instruments the legal metrological control of which is not regulated in the United Kingdom other than for use for trade for certain instruments as set out in regulation 3. These Regulations authorise the appointment of notified bodies to conduct conformity assessment of such instruments intended to be placed on the market or put into service in other member states.

Regulations 4 to 8 and Schedule 2 contain provisions relating to the eligibility and designation of applicants to be notified bodies and with the administrative procedures relating to their appointment, functions and fees.

Regulation 9 sets out the ways by which manufacturers can demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements for placing on the market and putting into use and regulation 10 lists the different conformity assessment procedures available to a manufacturer to demonstrate compliance in relation to each measuring instrument. The essential requirements are set out in Schedule 1. The technical documentation required is set out in Schedule 3. Requirements relating to the marking of instruments and identification are set out in regulation 11 and Schedule 4. Regulation 12 provides for a presumption of conformity with other applicable directives conferred by the CE marking.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) in respect of these Regulations is available and a copy can be obtained from the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML), Stanton Avenue, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 OJZ or from their website at www.nwml.gov.uk. As these Regulations transpose the Directive, a transposition note (TN) setting out how the Government has transposed the Directive into United Kingdom law has been prepared. Copies of the RIA and TN are available from NWML as above. Copies of these documents have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.