If you charge by weight, your scale must be legally verified. And if the weighing mechanism has been worked on or a seal has been broken, it must be re-verified before you may use it again. MASSLAB is a Recognised Verifier (Erkend Keurder) under the Dutch Metrology Act. We calibrate, adjust and re-verify in a single visit, so that your scale is out of service for as short a time as possible.
The Dutch Metrology Act (Metrologiewet) stipulates that a non-automatic weighing instrument must be legally verified if it is used for legally regulated applications. The most important of these are:
If you only weigh for internal purposes, such as production control, stock management or recipes, legal verification is not required. A calibration with certificate is then usually what your quality system asks for.
You can recognise a legally verified scale by the metrological mark next to the CE marking: a capital M in a rectangle, with the last two digits of the year and the number of the notified body. The type plate also shows the accuracy class (I, II, III or IIII), the maximum capacity (Max), the minimum capacity (Min) and the verification scale interval (e).
Access to the weighing mechanism and the adjustment menu is protected by seals: stickers or lead seals that break when removed. They ensure that nothing has been changed on the scale since the verification. If a seal is broken, the verification is no longer valid and the scale may not be used for legal applications until it has been re-verified.
Unlike in Belgium, for example, Dutch law does not prescribe periodic re-verification for most scales. That does not mean that a verification is valid forever. As the user, you are responsible for ensuring that the scale weighs within the legal tolerances at all times.
Supervision lies with the Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure (Rijksinspectie Digitale Infrastructuur, RDI). During an inspection, the inspector checks whether the scale carries the M mark and intact seals and whether it weighs within the tolerance. If the scale does not comply, it may no longer be used until it has been verified, and a fine may follow.
In practice, most companies therefore have their legally verified scales checked or calibrated periodically. The certificate is your evidence that you take your responsibility seriously.
You provide the brand, type, serial number and class of the instrument, preferably with a photo of the type plate. We check in advance whether we are permitted to carry out the verification for that instrument.
Our technician assesses the scale on site. If adjustment is required, we carry it out after consulting you.
We test the scale against the requirements for its accuracy class, using weights from our own laboratory.
If the scale complies, we apply the required marks and seals. The instrument is then fit for legal use again.
You receive the verification data. Would you also like a calibration certificate for your quality system? We can include this in the same visit.
For many companies, a legally verified scale alone is not enough. The law requires a valid verification, your auditor a calibration certificate. Because MASSLAB is both a Recognised Verifier and a calibration laboratory, we take care of both in a single appointment, with one schedule and one point of contact. Your certificates and verification data are then available together in the customer portal.
The same European directive applies in Belgium, but the national rules differ. There, periodic re-verification is mandatory for legally verified scales, and supervision lies with the FPS Economy (FOD Economie). We calibrate scales throughout Belgium. For the legal verification of a scale in Belgium, please contact us; we will then discuss the options for your situation.
A company recognised by the Dutch government to verify measuring instruments, such as scales, and to apply the required marks and seals. MASSLAB is a Recognised Verifier.
For most scales, Dutch law does not specify a fixed interval. Re-verification is, however, mandatory after a repair to the weighing mechanism or a broken seal, and the scale must always weigh within the tolerances.
Not for legal applications, such as charging by weight. It may still be used internally, but have the scale re-verified as soon as possible.
No. The CE marking indicates that a device complies with European product rules. A scale is only legally verified when the metrological M mark appears next to it.
Often, yes. Provide the brand, type and serial number; we then check in advance whether we are permitted to carry out the verification for that instrument.
Only if the model has an EU type approval and is suitable for it. Scales without type approval cannot be legally verified; in that case a legally verified replacement is needed.
Not automatically, as they are two different documents. Request it when making the appointment and we will calibrate the scale during the same visit.
Request a quote or call us. We calibrate in our own laboratory in Geldermalsen or on site, throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.