Approved body, verification and re-verification

Tyne and Wear Trading Standards Metrology Laboratory is the only Trading Standards body in the North East of England appointed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards to act as an Approved Body under the Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 and the Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016. 

Weighing instruments used for controlled applications need to satisfy certain essential requirements set out in the regulations.  

In general terms, a particular model of instrument will require a type approval and then each individual instrument will require initial verification when it is put into service. Alternatively, an instrument can undergo unit verification which effectively combines the two processes and would be the typical approach for a one-off installation. Once an instrument has obtained type approval, the manufacturer must draw up a declaration of conformity to declare that individual units have been manufactured in conformity with the approval type and satisfy the provisions of the relevant regulations.  

An initial verification can be performed by an approved third party (typically a local authority) or by the manufacturer, if approved to do so (known as self-verification).  

If an instrument is modified or repaired, it may require re-verification to the appropriate standards before being put back into service. Any instrument may also be subject to in-service inspection by a Trading Standards officer.  

Our experienced approved officers can carry out the verification of a range of weighing and measuring instruments including: 

Non-automatic weighing instruments including desk top scales, medical weighing instruments, and weighbridges 

Automatic weighing instruments, including: 

Automatic catch weighers (category X and Y) 

Automatic gravimetric filling instruments 

Discontinuous totalisers 

Automatic rail weigh-bridges

Measuring systems for the continuous and dynamic measurement of liquid other than water (for example fuel dispensers) (not for liquefied gases) accuracy class 0.5)

Water meters

Material measures including material measures of length

If you require an initial verification or re-verification of an instrument please email us at [email protected] with details of the instrument(s) and an officer with contact you for further information and to provide you with a cost estimate.