ESTABLISHMENT OF METROLOGY DIRECTORATE OF THE MALTA STANDARDS AUTHORITY ORDER

ESTABLISHMENT OF METROLOGY DIRECTORATE

OF THE MALTA STANDARDS AUTHORITY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 419.04

ESTABLISHMENT OF METROLOGY

DIRECTORATE OF THE MALTA STANDARDS

AUTHORITY ORDER

1st January, 2002

LEGAL NOTICE 312 of 2001.

(1) The title of this Order is the Establishment of

Metrology Directorate of the Malta Standards Authority Order.

(2) This Order lays down the establishment, organisation and

operation of the Metrology Directorate within the Malta Standards

Authority.

In this Order, the following definitions shall apply, unless

the context otherwise requires

"Act" means the Malta Standards Authority Act;

"Authority" means the Malta Standards Authority;

"calibration" encompasses all the operations for the purpose of

determining the values of errors of a measuring instrument;

"Head of Directorate" means the person appointed to that post

according to the provisions of article 3(17) of the Act;

"legal metrology" is that part of metrology which deals with

units of measurement, methods of measurement and of measuring

instruments, in relation to the mandatory technical and legal

requirements which have the object of ensuring the appropriate

accuracy of measurements;

"measurement standard" is a measuring instrument intended to

define, to represent physically, to conserve or to reproduce the unit

of measurement of a quantity, or a multiple or sub-multiple of that

unit, in order to transmit it to other measuring instruments by

comparison;

"measuring instrument" is a device intended to be used to make

measurements, alone or in conjunction with a supplementary device

or devices;

"metrology" is the field of knowledge concerned with

measurement;

"National Measurement Standard" is a measurement standard

which is the basis for fixing the value in a country of all other

standards of the given quantity;

"traceability" means the property of the result of a measurement

which is related, through an unbroken chain of comparisons, to

international measurement standards;

ESTABLISHMENT OF METROLOGY DIRECTORATE

OF THE MALTA STANDARDS AUTHORITY

"verification" means all the operations carried out by the

Metrology Directorate having the object of ascertaining and

confirming that the measuring instrument entirely satisfies the

requirements of the Metrology Act for verification;

"Working Measurement Standard" is a measurement standard

which, calibrated against a national measurement standard, is

intended to verify ordinary measuring instruments of lower

accuracy.

(1) There shall be established, within the Authority and as

provided for in article 3(14) of the Act, a Metrology Directorate.

(2) The Metrology Directorate shall be the national body

responsible for matters related to metrology and legal metrology in

Malta. The main functions of the Metrology Directorate shall, in

particular, consist of the following

(a) to be responsible for the execution, upkeep and

conservation of National Measurement Standards and

to maintain their accuracy by comparison with

international measurement standards;

(b) to provide Working Measurement Standards of suitable

accuracy for use in Malta, by comparison with the

National Measurement Standards;

(c) to be responsible for the National Measurement

Standards and their traceability;

(d) to organise the national calibration and traceability

activity;

(e) to prepare and implement the national metrology

strategy;

(f)

to carry out scientific and technical work in all fields

of metrology and measuring methods;

(g) to take part in the work of other national organisations

interested in metrology;

(h) to disseminate information relevant to metrology;

(i)

to be responsible for the enforcement of all metrology

regulations drawn up by virtue of the Metrology Act;

(j)

to be responsible for the execution and calibration of

Measurement Standards and verification equipment;

(k) to oversee, rnonitor and supervise the manufacture and

repair of measuring instruments;

(l)

to bring to the attention of the authorities any fraud in

relation to measurements in the provision of goods and

services;

(m) to provide for the holding of examinations for the

purpose of ascertaining whether persons possess

sufficient skill, knowledge and professional integrity

for the proper performance of their functions to be

performed by virtue of the Metrology Act;

(n) to collaborate with the relevant inspection bodies in

the fields of measuring instruments and pre-packaged

ESTABLISHMENT OF METROLOGY DIRECTORATE

OF THE MALTA STANDARDS AUTHORITY

products;

(o) to liaise with other foreign national institutions having

similar aims and to represent Malta in international

metrological institutions.

(3) The technical and related enforcement functions as well as

organisational assignments in the field of metrology, which are laid

down in this Order and in any other law, shall be performed by the

Metrology Directorate.

(4) The functions of the Metrology Directorate under this

regulation shall apply in the fields of transactions in goods and

services, proceedings before the administrative and judicial

authorities and the protection of public health, safety and the

environment.

(1) A Head of the Metrology Directorate shall be

appointed according to the provisions of article 3(17) of the Act.

(2) In exercising its functions under this Order, the Metrology

Directorate shall be functionally independent from the Authority as

regards operational matters and, more specifically, as regards

technical matters within its area of competence. In particular, the

Metrology Directorate shall be independent of any other structure

or official within the Authority as regards the implementation of

the functions listed in article 3(2) and (3).

(3) Without prejudice to subarticle (2), the Metrology

Directorate shall operate subject to the administrative and financial

control of the Authority as provided for in the Act as well as

subject to the general policy of the Authority.