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The amendment of the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) as of 30 April 2004 entails major changes with regard to the verification of capacity serving measures. Because of their specific topical relevance, the most important innovations and consequences will be introduced to you in the following*. With its publication in the Official Gazette L 135 of the European Union on 30 April 2004, the new MID took effect as Directive No. 2004/22/EC, and will come into binding force as of 30 October 2006. The translation of the new MID into national legislation may require transitional periods of up to 10 years, depending on the country of implementation concerned. In Great Britain, the new MID will come into effect without any transitional period as of 01 November 2006. So if you intend to supply capacity serving measures to Great Britain, please be aware that the Directives governing these measures will be binding as from 01 November 2006. The transitional periods for many other countries have not yet been agreed to date.
The new regulation entails the following innovations:
- The responsibility for the correct internal volume of capacity serving measures lies with the manufacturer or decorating company, respectively. The responsible entity is required to mark each and every capacity serving measure and must issue a Declaration of Conformity. Former exceptions, namely filling marks with breweries’ brand names, will no longer be allowed after a certain transition period.
- The Manufacturer’s Mark (RASTAL) must be firmly and indelibly affixed below the filling mark, which is to be displayed in conjunction with an indication of the nominal capacity.
- In addition, all capacity serving measures must be firmly and indelibly labelled with the so-called CE Mark. This mark must have a minimum font size of 5 mm, and has to be designed in compliance with specified typographical rules.
The mark is an alphanumeric code, i.e. a series of letters and numbers. It consists of the abbreviation “CE“, followed by the metrology mark “M” and the last two digits of the year of manufacture, surrounded by a rectangular frame. The last two code numbers stand for the testing organisation (“Notified Body”).
The Directive does, however, not include any stipulations regarding the location and position of the mark.
- The filling mark must have a minimum length of 10 mm; there is no maximum length limit. The colour of the filling mark and its distance from the brim may be freely chosen.
- Under the new Directive, capacity serving measures with any desired nominal internal volume from 10 ml to 5 l can be submitted to verification. However, this arrangement does not apply to Germany, where the capacity standards stipulated in the previous “Schankgefäßverordnung” (“Capacity Serving Measures Regulation”) will be adhered to also in the future.
- The new MID allows up to three filling marks to be affixed on one and the same capacity serving measure, with only one CE mark being required per measure.
However, several filling marks used on one measure must indicate different capacities, and any risk of confusion has to be eliminated.
- Tolerances allowed for capacity serving measures will be slightly different under the new Directive.
For so-called brim measures, where the internal volume (i.e. the capacity to the brim), is equal to the nominal capacity (e.g. 1 pint to the brim), no minus tolerances will be permitted. (RASTAL will, therefore, perform the most rigorous verification of brim measures, thus ensuring that brim capacity will never fall short of nominal capacity).
Due to the requirement to indicate the year of manufacture on capacity serving measures, the code will differ from year to year, which may entail some extra work and costs, especially in the manufacture of pressed articles where the filling mark is part of the mould. In order to minimise additional decoration costs, RASTAL will endeavour to modify all pressed articles (e.g. tankards) in a way that the RASTAL logo becomes an integral part of the mould below the filling mark, which means that only the MID mark must be applied separately by printing or laser engraving. Your RASTAL contact will be pleased to advise you on all the details and on the possibilities available for the capacity serving measures that you wish to supply.
Since the MID has not been implemented into national weights and measures legislation on time, the Directive will come into force, in the terms originally agreed, for all member states of the EU as of 30 October 2006, with the above-mentioned transition periods being provided for under the Directive. Please be aware that we will be obliged to comply with the new MID for all deliveries to Great Britain as from 01 November 2006 because a transition period has not been adopted in Great Britain, where even the "Government Stamping Office" has already been dissolved. Opposite you will find an excerpt from the Official Gazette of the European Union for download (unfortunately only available in German) where all relevant details are provided. If you are interested in receiving further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be pleased to furnish any information you may require.
* The information provided on this site is designed to give our interested partners in the beverage industry the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new developments and with the implementation of the amended Measuring Instruments Directive (MID). The content of the information as well as previous and future documents on this topic must not be regarded as recommendations, neither in relation to general or tax law, nor in any other way. All parties interested or concerned should seek appropriate advice from their own legal advisers, tax advisers and certified public accountants.
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| In the future possible: up to three filling marks | |
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| Different possibilities for the CE Mark | |
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| Here you can download an excerpt of the Official Gazette of the European Union (PDF, 105 kB - unfortunately only available in German) | |
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