# EUR-Lex - 31974L0148 - EN

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# 31974L0148

**Council Directive 74/148/EEC of 4 March 1974 on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to weights of 
from 1 mg to 50 kg of above-medium accuracy**
*Official Journal L 084 , 28/03/1974 P. 0003 - 0007 Finnish special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 3 P. 0222 Greek special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 2 P. 0202 Swedish special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 3 P. 0222 Spanish special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 3 P. 0178 Portuguese special edition Chapter 13 Volume 3 P. 0178*

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 4 March 1974 on the approximation
of the laws of the Member States relating to weights of from 1 mg to 50
kg of above-medium accuracy (74/148/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof; Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament; Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee; Whereas the manufacture and the procedures for inspection of weights of
above-medium accuracy are subject to strict regulations which differ 
between Member States and thus hinder trade in these weights ; whereas 
these regulations must therefore be aligned; Whereas the Council
Directive of 26 July 1971 (1) on the approximation of the laws of the 
Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring 
instruments and methods of metrological control laid down the EEC 
pattern approval procedure and the EEC initial verification procedure ; 
whereas, pursuant to that Directive, the technical specifications which 
weights of above-medium accuracy must satisfy in order to be put freely 
on the market and into service, after verifications and affixing of the 
EEC initial verification mark, must be laid down; Whereas 
account should be taken of the draft international recommendation, 
"valeur conventionnelle du résultat des pesées dans l'air", of the 
International Organization of Legal Metrology, May 1973, in respect of 
the concept of conventional mass, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 This Directive concerns weights of above-medium accuracy the nominal 
value of which is equal to 1 mg or more and less than or equal to 50 kg. This Directive does not apply to metric carat weights or to special weights covered by other directives. Article 2 Weights which may receive the EEC marks and signs are listed in the 
Annex. They are not subject to EEC pattern approval ; they must undergo 
EEC initial verification. Article 3 No Member 
State may prevent, prohibit or restrict the placing on the market or 
entry into service of weights referred to in Article 1 and bearing the 
EEC initial verification mark. Article 4 1. 
Member States shall put into force the laws, regulations and 
administrative provisions needed in order to comply with this Directive 
within eighteen months of its notification and shall forthwith inform 
the Commission thereof. 2. Member States shall ensure that the 
texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the 
field covered by this Directive are communicated to the Commission. Article 5 This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 4 March 1974. For the Council The President W. SCHEEL (1)OJ No L 202, 26.7.1971, p. 1. ANNEX 1. Definitions 1.1. Weight A physical measure of mass, whose constructional and metrological 
characteristics are determined by shape, size, material, finish, nominal
value and maximum permissible error. 1.2. Sets of weights Series of weights generally presented in a box, in such a combination 
as to allow weighings of all loads from the smallest nominal weight up 
to the sum of all the weights in the set, in a sequence of which the 
smallest nominal weight in the set is the unit. The sequence in a set of weights is generally as follows: (1 ; 1 ; 2 ; 5) × 10n kg (1 ; 1 ; 1 ; 2 ; 5) × 10n kg (1 ; 2 ; 2 ; 5) × 10n kg (1 ; 1 ; 2 ; 2 ; 5) × 10n kg In these expressions, n represents either zero, or a positive or negative whole number. 1.3. Standard weights Weights used in the inspection of weighing machines and weights are known as standard weights. 2. Nominal values of the weights The nominal value of the weights must be equal to 1 × 10n kg, or 2 × 
10n kg, or 5 × 10n kg ; in these expressions n represents either zero or
a positive or negative whole number. 3. Conventional mass 3.1. For a weight taken at 20o C, the conventional mass is the mass
of a reference weight of a density of 8 000 kg/m3 which it balances in 
air of a density of 1.2 kg/m3. 3.2 The maximum permissible errors, mentioned in point 4, relate to the conventional mass. 4. Maximum permissible errors for EEC initial verification 4.1. The maximum permissible error, plus or minus, for each individual 
weight is given in milligrammes in the table below: >PIC FILE= 
"T0005489"> >PIC FILE= "T0005490"> 5. General shape of weights A one-gramme weight may have the shape of multiples of one gramme or 
the shape of the sub-multiples. 5.1. Weights of one gramme and 
multiple gramme weights. 5.1.1. Grade M1 weights should have the 
shape of weights of the medium accuracy class. 5.1.2. Weights of the other accuracy classes may have the external 
dimensions of weights of the medium accuracy class. 10 kg to 1 gramme 
weights may also be cylindrical or in the shape of a slightly truncated 
cone surmounted by a knob. 5.1.2.1. The height of the body 
shall be roughly equal to the mean diameter, the permissible difference 
between the mean diameter and the height being between 3/4 and 5/4 of 
this diameter. 5.1.2.2. On all weights the 
height of the knob should lie between the mean diameter and the mean 
half-diameter of the body. 5.1.3. Class E1, E2 and F1 weights do not have to have a knob ; they may consist of a single cylindrical body. 5.1.4. Class E1 and E2 weights must be cast in one piece ;
other weights may have an adjustment cavity closed by the knob or any 
other suitable device. The volume of the adjustment cavity shall not 
exceed 1/5 of the total volume of the weights. 5.2. Weights of one gramme and sub-multiple weights of the 
gramme. Weights of one gramme and sub-multiple weights of the gramme 
shall be polygonal laminated strips or wires suitably shaped to permit 
easy handling. The shapes of the weights shall give an indication of their nominal value. Polygonal laminated strips, their shape and values: triangle for 1 - 10 - 100 - 1 000 mg quadrilateral for 2 - 20 - 200 mg pentagon for 5 - 50 - 500 mg Polygonal wire segments and their values: 1 segment for 1 - 10 - 100 - 1 000 mg 2 segments for 2 - 20 - 200 mg 5 segments for 5 - 50 - 500 mg Where two or three weights in the set are identical, they shall be 
distinguished by one or two asterisks or dots respectively in the case 
of laminated strips and one or two hooks respectively in the case of 
wires. 5.3. Weights of 20 and 50 kg, other than those in class M1, may have a shape suited to their method of handling. 6. Constituents of the weights 6.1. Weights shall be made of 
metal or metal alloy. Such metal or alloy shall be of such quality that 
under normal conditions of use the deterioriation of the weights shall 
be negligible in relation to the maximum permissible errors in their 
accuracy class. 6.1.1. The density of the weight shall be such 
that a deviation of 10 % of the air density in relation to that 
specified (1.2 kg/m3) will lead to an error of not more than 1/4 of the 
maximum permissible error. 6.1.2. The metal or alloy of class E1, E2 and F1 weights shall be virtually non-magnetic. 
6.2. The resistance to corrosion and flaking of the 
constituent metal or alloy of 5 to 50 kg class M1 weights of 
parallelepiped shape shall be at least equal to that of grey cast iron. 
6.3. Class M1 weights of cylindrical, shape having nominal 
values less than or equal to 10 kg shall be made of brass or of a 
material at least equal in quality to brass. 6.4. The qualities set out in points 6.2. and 6.3 may be obtained by means of a suitable surface treatment. 7. Surface state 7.1. The surface of the weights, including 
their bases and edges, shall be entirely smooth. The surface of class 
E1, E2, F1 and F2 weights shall show no porosity when examined by the 
naked eye, and shall be carefully polished. The surface of class
M1 10 kg to 1 kg cylindrical weights shall be polished, and shall show 
no porosity to the naked eye. The surface condition of class M1 50, 20, 
10 and 5 kg parallelepiped weights shall be comparable to that of grey 
cast iron carefully cast in a fine sand mould. 7.2. The
surface of class E1, E2, F1 and F2 weights of one gramme and multiples 
of a gramme may be protected by a metal coating. 7.3. The surface of class M1 weights of one gramme and multiples of a gramme may be protected by a suitable coating. 8. Adjustment material Weights of F1 and F2 accuracy classes with an adjustment cavity shall 
be adjusted either with the same material as that of which they are 
constituted, or with pure tin, or with molybdenum. Class M1 weights may be adjusted with lead. 9. Inscriptions 9.1. Laminated strip or wire weights having 
nominal values less than or equal to one gramme shall bear no indication
of nominal value. 9.2. Weights having nominal values 
equal to or more than one gramme: - in classes E1 and E2 shall bear no indication of their nominal value; - in class F1 shall bear only the indication of nominal value as laid down in
point 9.2.1. ; this indication shall be burnished or engraved; - in class F2 shall bear the inscriptions of class F1 accompanied by the letter F; - in class M1 shall bear the nominal value marked in 
figures followed by the symbol of the appropriate unit, either recessed 
or embossed, on the upper face of the body or knob of the weights. Cylindrical weights shall be marked with the letter M, either recessed 
or embossed ; parallelepiped weights shall be marked with the letter M 
which need not be recessed or embossed. 9.2.1. The nominal values of the weights shall be indicated in: - kilogrammes for weights of 1 kilogramme or more, - grammes for weights of 1 gramme to 500 grammes. 9.2.2. Weights appearing two or three times in the sequences 
shall be distinguished by one or two asterisks or by one or two dots. 10. EEC final verification mark Boxes containing E1, E2, and F1 class weights, and all boxes containing
the gramme and sub-multiples of the gramme, shall be sealed with the 
EEC final verification mark. For class F2 weights the EEC final 
verification mark shall be affixed to the cover of the adjustment 
cavity, and where there is no adjustment cavity, upon the base of the 
weight. For class M1 weights of one gramme to 50 kg the EEC final 
verification mark shall be placed upon the lead sealing the adjustment 
cavity opening, or upon the base in the case of weights having no 
adjustment cavity. 11. Presentation 11.1. Individual 
weights and series of weights of classes E1, E2, F1 and F2 shall be 
contained in boxes. 11.2. For class M1 - 
individual weights or series of weights up to a value of 500 grammes 
shall be contained in boxes, - weights having a 
nominal value greater than 500 grammes may be contained in boxes, fitted
in a stand or presente d individually, without protection. 11.3. The lids of the boxes shall indicate the class of weights which they contain : E1 ; E2 ; F1 ; F2 ; M1.