1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 1
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►B COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of12October1971
ontheapproximationofthelawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingtothemeasuringofthestandard
massperstoragevolumeofgrain
(71/347/EEC)
(OJ L 239, 25.10.1971, p. 1)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►A1Act of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern IrelandL 73 14 27.3.1972
(adapted by Council Decision of 1 January 1973) L 2 1 1.1.1973
►A2Act of Accession of Greece L 291 17 19.11.1979
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COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of12October 1971
on the approximationof the lawsofthe Member States relating to
themeasuringofthestandardmassperstoragevolumeofgrain
(71/347/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(1);
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee(2);
Whereas the instruments and methods used in the Member States to
measure the standard mass per storage volume of grain are differentand directly affect the functioning of the common market; whereas
approximation of the laws in this field will facilitate trade not only in
grain but also in measuring instruments;
Whereas for this purpose it is advisable to define a particular character-
istic, designated the ‘EEC standard mass per storage volume’, and to
lay down the technical requirements which must be satisfied by thestandard instruments used to determine this reference value;
Whereas measuring instruments whose accuracy is defined in relation
to that of standard instruments and which have been subjected to thecontrols provided for in the Council Directive of 26 July 1971(
3)o n
the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to provi-sions for bothmeasuring instruments and meth ods of metrological
control give sufficient guarantees to justify their legal use in all the
Member States; whereas these measuring instruments can consequentlybe marketed throughout the Community;
Whereas it is necessary, with respect to trade between Member States,
to prohibit measurement of the standard mass per storage volume ofgrain according to the various provisions and practices at presentapplicable in the Community; whereas the exclusive and compulsoryuse of the EEC standard mass per storage volume in all Member Stateswill prevent disputes in intra-Community trade about this method of
measurement;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
This Directive concerns:
(a) the definition of the characteristic of cereals designated EEC stan-
dard mass per storage volume (masse à l'hectolitre CEE, EEG-natuurgewicht, EWG-Schüttdichte, peso ettolitrico CEE, EØF-
masse af hektoliter korn
►A2,βάρος εκατολί-
τρου ΕΟΚ ◄);
(b) the requirements for the technical construction and utilisation of the
reference standard instrument used to determine the EEC standardmass per storage volume;
(c) the conditions which must be fulfilled by the working instruments
used to measure the EEC standard mass per storage volume.1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 63, 28.5.1969, p. 27.
(2) OJ No C 4, 14.1.1969, p. 4.
(3) OJ No L 202, 6.9.1971, p. 1.▼A1
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Article 2
1. The EEC standard mass per storage volume is the ratio of the
mass expressed in kilogrammes to the volume expressed in hectolitres,
as determined for any kind of grain by measurement withan instrumentand according to a method which are in conformity with the provisionsof this Directive.
2. The ‘reference’ EEC standard mass per storage volume is the
EEC standard mass per storage volume as determined by measurementwitha standard Community or national instrument constructed andused in accordance withCh apters I and II of Annex I.
3. The reference EEC standard mass per storage volume is
expressed in kilogrammes per hectolitre to two decimal places.
Article 3
1. The Community standard instrument shall be deposited with the
Metrology Service of the Federal Republic of Germany. At least everyten years, national standard instruments shall, in conformity with
Annex I, be checked against the Community standard instrument and
adjusted accordingly by means of a transportable standard instrumentof the same type.
2. A transportable standard instrument is an instrument without a
weighing device, but otherwise having exactly the same characteristics
as the Community and national standard instruments.
Article 4
1. For trading purposes, the term EEC standard mass per storage
volume may only be used to designate a grain characteristic whichhas been measured with instruments conforming to the requirements
of this Directive.
2. For the purposes of trade in grain between the Member States, the
characteristic designated standard mass per storage volume may onlybe the EEC standard mass per storage volume which is defined above.
3. Throughout the period in which the unit of measurement (pound
per bushel) lawfully in use in Ireland and in the United Kingdom at the
date of accession continues to be authorized, the term ‘EEC standard
mass per storage volume’ may be employed to characterize cerealswhich have been measured in Ireland or in the United Kingdom bythe instruments and methods in use in those countries. In this case,the measurements obtained in pounds per bushel shall be convertedinto the EEC unit of standard mass per storage volume by being multi-
plied by a factor of 1.25.
Article 5
The measuring instruments used for trading purposes to determine the
EEC standard mass per storage volume of grain shall fulfil the require-ments of Annex II.
They shall be subject to EEC pattern-approval and to EEC initial veri-
fication.
They shall be constructed and used in accordance with the conditions
specified in the EEC pattern-approval certificate.
They shall bear EEC marks and symbols.
Article 6
No Member State may refuse, prohibit or restrict the placing on the
market or the entry into serivce of measuring instruments used to deter-mine the EEC standard mass per storage volume, where suchinstruments bear the EEC pattern-approval symbol and the EECinitial-verification mark.1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 3
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Article 7
1. Member States shall put into force the laws, regulations or admin-
istrative provisions needed in order to comply withth is 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 Directiveare communicated to the Commission.
Article 8
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 4
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ANNEX I
STANDARD INSTRUMENTS USED TO MEASURE THE EEC STAN-
DARDMASSPERSTORAGEVOLUMEOFGRAIN
I. CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
1. Standard instruments consist of a capacity measure, a filling device, a
scraper device, a weighing device and a filling container.
All parts of the instruments shall be constructed soundly and carefully;
all surfaces coming into contact with the grain shall be smooth and
made of a virtually stable metal, e.g. brass, stainless steel, sufficiently
thick to keep its shape during normal use.
2.Capacitymeasure
2.1. The capacity measure is in the form of an upright, circular cylinder;
its upper edge is ground flat along a plane perpendicular to its axis.
2.2. During the filling operation the capacity measure is always in the
same position under the filling device.
2.3. Above the capacity measure, when in the filling position, a filling
ring is affixed which is mounted along the same axis and has the
same internal diameter as the capacity measure, the scraper blade
moves with a slight clearance between these two components.
3.Filling device
3.1. The filling device consists of a filling hopper equipped with a
closing device and a regulating device.
3.2. The filling hopper is in the form of a truncated cone to which is
attached an upper cylindrical part and a lower tapered discharge
nozzle equipped witha closing device.
3.3. The filling hopper is fixed in such a way that in the filling position
its axis is vertical and coincides with that of the capacity measure.
3.4. The regulating device has a closely specified profile. It projects
downwards into the lower discharge nozzle and its position is adjus-
table in the vertical direction. Its axis coincides with that of the
filling hopper.
4.Scraperdevice
4.1. The scraper device consists of a scraper blade, a guide and a trac-
tion device.
4.2. The scraper blade is flat, horizontal and keeps its shape during use.
4.3. The guide constrains the scraper blade to move between the lower
rim of the filling ring and the upper rim of the capacity measure.
4.4. The traction device sets the scraper blade in continuous movement
through the grain.
4.5. After filling and weighing the capacity measure, the excess grain on
the scraper blade in the filling ring is collected in a container.
5.Weighingdevice
5.1. The capacity measure, filled with grain, is weighed on an equal arm
balance of 50 kg capacity.
5.2. The mass of the weights platform of the balance balances the empty
capacity measure.
6.General assembly
6.1. The various parts of the instrument, apart from the capacity measure
and the balance, are fixed on a frame in such a way that the upper
rim of the capacity measure, in the filling position, is horizontal.
6.2. The frame of the instrument is equipped with a plumb line at least
500 mm long, or witha spirit level. Th ese devices must be between
the reference marks when the upper rim of the capacity measure, in
the filling position, is horizontal.1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 5
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7.Dimensionsofthevariouscomponents
Capacitymeasure
Internal diameter 295 mm ± 1 mm
Volume 20 L ± 0·01 L
Distance between the inside bottom face of the
measure and the bottom edge of the lower
tapered discharge nozzle of the filling hopper500 mm ± 2 mm
Distance between the scraper blade and the
rim of the capacity measure0·5 mm ± 0·2 mm
Filling ring
Internal diameter 295 mm ± 1 mm
Filling hopper
Lengthof axis of th e upper cylindrical part 120 mm ± 2 mm
Lengthof axis of th e conical part 240 mm ± 1 mmLength of axis of the lower tapered discharge
nozzle80 mm ± 0·5 mm
Total length of axis of the hopper 440 mm ± 3 mm
Internal diameter of the upper cylindrical part 390 mm ± 1 mm
Internal diameter of the tapered discharge
nozzle
at the top (g ′) 84·5 mm ± 0·5 mm
at the bottom (g ″) 86·5 mm ± 0·5 mm
Difference g ″—g′ 2 mm ± 0·5 mm
Regulating device
Diameter of the rod 11 mm ± 0·2 mmRadius of the throat 16 mm ± 0·5 mm
Height of the cylindrical part 5 mm ± 0·5 mm
Diameter of the cylindrical part 33 mm ± 0·2 mm
Scraper device
Mass of traction weight 5 kg ± 0·1 kg
Filling container
Volume up to the rim 24 L ± 0·1 L
8.Figure
The standard instrument is shown in the attached diagram
II. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
The grain to be measured shall be free of impurities and at approximately
ambient temperature. It shall be air-dried, i.e. in hygroscopic equilibrium
with the ambient air. For this purpose it is spread out in a thin layer and
left undisturbed for about ten hours before being transferred. The relative
humidity of the ambient air shall not exceed 60 %.
The standard mass per storage volume depends on the quantity of grain
used and the way it is transferred to the filling hopper. For this reason, the
following procedure should be followed:
Place capacity measure 1 (see attached diagram) in the filling position so
that its axis coincides with that of the filling ring 2 and the filling hopper3, and move the lever 15 so as to lock the said measure in this position by
the locking rod 16. Move the scraper blade 9 to its starting position and
lock it in position with the lever 12. Use the foot screws 19 to adjust the
frame 20, so that the upper rim of the capacity measure 1 is in a horizontal
plane during filling.1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 6
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24 litres of grain are now put into the filling container (not shown in the
diagram) and tipped into the filling hopper 3 after it has been checked that
the closing device 4 of the tapered discharge nozzle 8 is in the closed posi-
tion. Then draw the bolt 5 to open the closing device 4 (which is then held
open by the catch 6), and let the grain flow into the capacity measure 1
standing on the carriage 14. This flow is protected against external influ-
ences by the collar 2 a. The support 14 a prevents deformation of the rails
along which the rollers of the carriage 14 travel.
The excess grain (approximately 4 litres) that has been fed into the hopper 3
in order to ensure even filling of the capacity measure 1 is retained in the
filling ring 2 after the measure is completely filled. To separate this excess
from the contents of the capacity measure 1, open the bolt 12 which pivots
on a spindle fixed on the crosspiece 11, in order to release the scraper blade
9. The front edge of the scraper blade 9, which is actuated by the traction
weight 13, is sufficiently sharp to cut off any grains on the rim of the capa-
city measure 1 which might prevent regular scraping. When the scraper
blade 9 reaches its final position, use the lever 15 to withdraw the capacity
measure 1 standing on the carriage 14, remove the measure from this
carriage, place it on the scales and weigh its contents to within ± 5 g.
Pull back the scraper blade 9 to its starting position, so that the excess grain
lying on this blade falls into the container 17; any stray grains are guided
into the container by the jacket 18. After releasing the catch 6 by turning
the handwheel 4 a, shut the closing device 4.
If another measurement has to be made on the same sample, the grain from
the capacity measure should be thoroughly mixed with that from the
container.
To obtain the standard mass per storage volume in kg/hl, divide by 0·2 hl
the value N indicated by the weighing device.
III. CHECKING AND ADJUSTING
1.Dimensionsandvolumes
The dimensions and volumes given under item 1·7 are checked with
instruments of suitable accuracy.
2.Checkingoffunctioning
National standard instruments shall be checked against the Community
standard instrument and adjusted accordingly by means of a transportable
standard instrument.
2.1. For the purposes of this check pure Manitoba wheat whose grains
are approximately spherical is used. It shall have a standard mass
per storage volume of not less than 80 kg/hl and shall be in hygro-
scopic equilibrium withth e ambient air. Six measuring operations
are made in accordance withth e instructions of item II. If P denotes
the standard instrument to be checked and N the EEC standard
instrument, the measurements are made as follows:
Comparison No 1 23456
Sequence of instruments NP PN NP PN NP PN
2.1.1. The differences between the separate values given by P and
their mean value may not exceed ± 10 g.
2.1.2. The error of the instrument is the difference between the
mean value of the six readings given by P and the mean
value of the six readings given by N. The maximum permis-
sible error is ± 10 g.
2.1.3. If the maximum permissible errors specified in items 2.1.1 or
2.1.2 are exceeded, this may be because the grain is still not
sufficiently homogeneous; itmust therefore be left spread out
for about another ten hours in the measuring place, after
which the check described in item 2.1 is repeated.
2.1.4. If only the maximum permissible error specified in item 2.1.2
is exceeded, the instrument must be adjusted.
The readings provided by the instrument can be altered by
moving the regulation device 7 to a higher or lower position.
The regulating device 7 is moved and the check described in
item 2.1 is repeated.1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 7
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3.Weighingdevice
3.1. For loads between 10 and 20 kg, the error of the balance must not
exceed ± 0·01 % of the load.
3.2. The sum of the errors in the weights used must not exceed ± 0·02 %
of their nominal mass.
Legendonattacheddrawing
1. Capacity measure
2. Filling ring and collar 2a
3. Filling hopper
4. Closing device and handwheel 4a5. Bolt for closing device
6. Catchfor closing device
7. Regulating device8. Tapered discharge nozzle9. Scraper blade
10. Scraper blade guide
11. Crosspiece and support 11a12. Bolt for scraper blade
13. Traction weight
14. Carriage and support for rails 14a15. Lever for carriage16. Locking rod
17. Container
18. Jacket19. Foot screws20. Frame1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 8
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1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 9
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ANNEX II
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS USEDTO D ETERMINE THE EEC
STANDARDMASSPERSTORAGEVOLUMEOFGRAIN
1. The measuring instruments used to determine the EEC standard mass per
storage volume of grain have the following characteristics:
(a) they are designed and manufactured so as to ensure satisfactory repeat-
ability and reproducibility of measurements;
(b) the maximum permissible error of the standard mass per storage volume
is plus or minus five-thousandths of the result given by a standard instru-
ment;
(c) the maximum permissible relative error on the capacity of the container
used is plus or minus two-thousandths;
(d) the maximum permissible relative error of the weighing instrument for
the quantity weighed is plus or minus one-thousandth;
(e) the difference between each result obtained for a specific grain and the
mean value of the standard mass per storage volume as determined
from six consecutive measurements is not more than plus or minus
three-thousandths of such mean value.
2. Eachinstrument h as a clearly visible inscription plate bearing in legible and
indelible letters the following information:
(a) the EEC pattern approval symbol;
(b) the identification mark or name of the manufacturer;
(c) the manufacturer's description, if any;
(d) an identification number and the year of manufacture;
(e) the nominal capacity of the capacity measure and either the operating
instructions or a reference to the operating instructions.1971L0347 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 002.001 — 10