Directive 2014/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Design and construction

8. General requirements

8.1. Design and construction of the instruments shall be such that the instruments will preserve their metrological qualities when properly used and installed and when used in an environment for which they are intended. The value of the mass must be indicated.

8.2. When exposed to disturbances, electronic instruments shall not display the effects of significant faults, or shall automatically detect and indicate them.

Upon automatic detection of a significant fault, electronic instruments shall provide a visual or audible alarm that shall continue until the user takes corrective action or the fault disappears.

8.3. The requirements of points 8.1 and 8.2 shall be met on a lasting basis during a period of time that is normal in view of the intended use of such instruments.

Digital electronic devices shall always exercise adequate control of the correct operation of the measuring process, of the indicating device, and of all data storage and data transfer.

Upon automatic detection of a significant durability error, electronic instruments shall provide a visual or audible alarm that shall continue until the user takes corrective action or the error disappears.

8.4. When external equipment is connected to an electronic instrument through an appropriate interface the metrological qualities of the instrument shall not be adversely influenced.

8.5. The instruments shall have no characteristics likely to facilitate fraudulent use, whereas possibilities for unintentional misuse shall be minimal. Components that may not be dismantled or adjusted by the user shall be secured against such actions.

8.6. Instruments shall be designed to permit ready execution of the statutory controls laid down by this Directive.

9. Indication of weighing results and other weight values

The indication of the weighing results and other weight values shall be accurate, unambiguous and non-misleading and the indicating device shall permit easy reading of the indication under normal conditions of use.

The names and symbols of the units referred to in point 1 of this Annex shall comply with the provisions of Directive 80/181/EEC with the addition of the symbol for the metric carat which shall be the symbol ‘ct’.

Indication shall be impossible above the maximum capacity (Max), increased by 9 e.

An auxiliary indicating device is permitted only to the right of the decimal mark. An extended indicating device may be used only temporarily, and printing shall be inhibited during its functioning.

Secondary indications may be shown, provided that they cannot be mistaken for primary indications.

10. Printing of weighing results and other weight values

Printed results shall be correct, suitably identified and unambiguous. The printing shall be clear, legible, non-erasable and durable.

11. Levelling

When appropriate, instruments shall be fitted with a levelling device and a level indicator, sufficiently sensitive to allow proper installation.

12. Zeroing

Instruments may be equipped with zeroing devices. The operation of these devices shall result in accurate zeroing and shall not cause incorrect measuring results.

13. Tare devices and preset tare devices

The instruments may have one or more tare devices and a preset tare device. The operation of the tare devices shall result in accurate zeroing and shall ensure correct net weighing. The operation of the preset tare device shall ensure correct determination of the calculated net value.

14. Instruments for direct sales to the public, with a maximum capacity not greater than 100 kg: additional requirements

Instruments for direct sale to the public shall show all essential information about the weighing operation and, in the case of price-indicating instruments, shall clearly show the customer the price calculation of the product to be purchased.

The price to pay, if indicated, shall be accurate.

Price-computing instruments shall display the essential indications long enough for the customer to read them properly.

Price-computing instruments may perform functions other than per-article weighing and price computation only if all indications related to all transactions are printed clearly and unambiguously and are conveniently arranged on a ticket or label for the customer.

Instruments shall bear no characteristics that can cause, directly or indirectly, indications the interpretation of which is not easy or straightforward.

Instruments shall safeguard customers against incorrect sales transactions due to their malfunctioning.

Auxiliary indicating devices and extended indicating devices are not permitted.

Supplementary devices are permitted only if they cannot lead to fraudulent use.

Instruments similar to those normally used for direct sales to the public which do not satisfy the requirements of this Section must carry near to the display the indelible marking ‘Not to be used for direct sale to the public’.

15. Price labelling instruments

Price labelling instruments shall meet the requirements of price indicating instruments for direct sale to the public, as far as applicable to the instrument in question. The printing of a price label shall be impossible below a minimum capacity.