On 22nd August, NWML published the draft regulations that will implement the MID. In line with their original proposals and the positive comments received to the original consultation document they issued 11 sets of draft regulations in all. Five of these related directly to automatic weighing instruments, and one set dealt with all those measuring instruments included in the MID but which NWML do not propose to regulate; automatic checkweighers being one of those classes of instrument.
The regulations cover all the aspects of the MID and the in-service use provisions that apply once the equipment has been placed on the market and taken into service.
The Federation made a number of comments about the draft regulations before the consultation period closed on 14th November. The situation whereby initial verification can only be carried out by the "manufacturer" will prevail but we asked for the regulations to be amended so that any UKWF member who is able to be certified to carry out re-verification of existing equipment under the National Type Approval will still be able to do so under these regulations. We also commented adversely that we disagreed with the provision in the regulations that would allow Trading Standards Departments to set the fees for re-verification, including re-verification by the industry. (To be fair we don't think this was ever the real intention of the regulations but it just shows how carefully these things have to be read when making comments.)
NWML and their lawyers will now consider all the comments they have received, make any necessary amendments to the drafts and then present them to the Government for adoption.
The intention is that the regulations will be in place by 30th April 2006. NWML will also be taking steps to make sure that the Notified Bodies for Type Approval, Design Examination, Initial Verification and Quality Assessment are all in place so that manufacturers and others can ensure that they have everything in place for 30th October next year when the Directive finally becomes effective. Whilst measuring equipment which has National Type Approval will still be able to be produced and verified as long as its National Type Approval remains in force, there is no doubt that manufacturers and others will want to take advantage of the marketing opportunities that the MID will give them and will therefore want to have equipment available from day one of the new regime.
Once the regulations are finalised we will explore the possibility of holding a one-day seminar, with NWML, on the effect of the regulations and how members can get their approvals and accreditations in place to be ready for 30th October. | 
