Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) - gas and electrical energy meters

The MID Directive (Measuring Instruments Directive) is the European legislation that establishes the requirements applicable to certain measuring instruments, including gas and electricity meters, before they can be placed on the market and used within the European Union.

MID certification is the procedure through which the conformity of a measuring instrument with the requirements of the MID Directive is assessed and certified, allowing the manufacturer, upon completion of the applicable conformity assessment procedure, to affix the CE marking and the supplementary metrology marking (M).

Istituto Giordano is one of the Italian Notified Bodies operating under the MID regulatory framework: Directive 2004/22/EC and, since 21 April 2016, Directive 2014/32/EU (Measuring Instruments Directive), commonly referred to in the field of legal metrology as the MID Directive.

Istituto Giordano is an ACCREDIA-accredited MID Certification Body.

MID Certification: Module B and Module D 

For products subject to the MID Directive, within the scopes for which Istituto Giordano is notified and accredited, the conformity assessment procedures include:

• Module B – EU-type examination
• Module D – Conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process

Module B concerns the EU-type examination of a measuring instrument and the assessment of its conformity with the applicable requirements of the MID Directive.

Module D concerns conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process: the manufacturer operates an approved quality system under the surveillance of the Notified Body.

Is MID certification mandatory? 

MID certification is mandatory for measuring instruments that fall within the scope of Directive 2014/32/EU and are placed on the market or put into use for the applications covered by the legislation.

Compliance with the MID Directive allows the manufacturer to affix the CE marking and the supplementary metrology marking (M) and demonstrates that the instrument meets the essential requirements established by European legislation.

Istituto Giordano has been operating in the field of MID certification for meters since 2009, covering the following product families:

• gas meters and volume conversion devices – MI-002: MID certification for gas meters applies to instruments covered by MI-002 of the MID Directive, which also includes volume conversion devices;
• active electrical energy meters – MI-003: the MID Directive for electricity meters covers active electrical energy meters intended for residential, commercial and light industrial use. MID certification for electricity meters assesses the instrument's conformity with the applicable metrological requirements established by the legislation.

What are the manufacturers' obligations under the MID Directive? 

The MID Directive makes the manufacturer responsible for ensuring that measuring instruments placed on the market are designed and manufactured in compliance with the applicable requirements of Directive 2014/32/EU.

To place a meter compliant with the MID Directive on the market, the manufacturer must, in particular:

• ensure that the instrument has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the applicable essential requirements;
• prepare the technical documentation required to demonstrate the instrument's conformity;
• submit the instrument to the conformity assessment procedure applicable to the specific product category;
• involve a Notified Body to carry out the conformity assessment activities required by the applicable module;
• draw up the EU Declaration of Conformity, whereby the manufacturer assumes responsibility for the conformity of the instrument;
• affix the CE marking and the supplementary metrology marking (M) in accordance with the procedures established by the Directive;
• ensure that series production remains compliant with the applicable requirements;
• retain the required documentation and ensure the traceability of the instrument;
• take the appropriate corrective measures if an instrument placed on the market is found to be non-compliant.

In the case of MID certification for meters through Module D – Conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process, the manufacturer must also operate an approved quality system for production, final product inspection and testing, and must be subject to surveillance by the Notified Body.

Compliance with these obligations enables the manufacturer to demonstrate that its instruments comply with the MID Directive and to place compliant meters on the market in accordance with the applicable procedures.

MID Directive for meters: why choose Istituto Giordano? 

Istituto Giordano provides manufacturers with its expertise in the field of the MID Directive and the certification of gas and electricity meters.

The Institute is notified and accredited for activities including:

• Module B – EU-type examination
• Module D – Conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process
• gas meters – MI-002
• volume conversion devices – MI-002
• active electrical energy meters – MI-003Istituto Giordano can also provide software for the periodic verification of gas conversion devices, operating in accordance with the requirements of Italian Ministerial Decree No. 93 and validated with reference to the relevant supporting technical standards, UNI EN ISO 12213-2:2010 and UNI EN ISO 12213-3:2010.

The software can be customised according to the applicant's specific requirements. While the computational component remains unchanged for reasons related to the certification of the calculation routine, the software can be integrated, for example, with verification forms already prepared by the laboratory and with the inspection checklist included in the annexes to Decree No. 93.