Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) 2014/32/EU
Directive 2014/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of measuring instruments — the "MID" — replaced Directive 2004/22/EC and has applied since 20 April 2016. It covers ten categories of measuring instruments, and Directive (EU) 2026/706 adds two more from 10 October 2028. The structure is unusual: a horizontal text plus instrument-specific annexes (MI-001 to MI-010) that set the requirements and the permitted conformity assessment procedures for each category. Published as OJ L 96, 29.3.2014, p. 149.
Legal status and timeline
- Adoption: 26 February 2014.
- Date of application: 20 April 2016.
- Repeal of Directive 2004/22/EC: 20 April 2016.
- Amendments: Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/13 (water meter flowrate range in Annex III) and Directive (EU) 2026/706 of 11 March 2026.
- Directive (EU) 2026/706: published 20 March 2026, in force since 9 April 2026. Member States must transpose by 10 April 2028 and apply the measures from 10 October 2028 (Article 3).
- Status in October 2026: applies in its pre-amendment form until the 2026 changes take effect. The Commission is evaluating the MID and the NAWI Directive.
Scope: products covered
Article 2(1) applies the Directive to the measuring instruments defined in the instrument-specific Annexes III to XII. The last column shows the procedures a manufacturer may choose from:
| Annex | Instrument | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| MI-001 (III) | Water meters | B + F, B + D, H1 |
| MI-002 (IV) | Gas meters and volume conversion devices | B + F, B + D, H1 |
| MI-003 (V) | Active electrical energy meters | B + F, B + D, H1 |
| MI-004 (VI) | Thermal energy meters | B + F, B + D, H1 |
| MI-005 (VII) | Measuring systems for continuous and dynamic measurement of liquids other than water, such as fuel dispensers | B + F, B + D, H1, G |
| MI-006 (VIII) | Automatic weighing instruments | Mechanical: B + D, B + E, B + F, D1, F1, G, H1. Electromechanical: B + D, B + E, B + F, G, H1. Electronic or with software: B + D, B + F, G, H1 |
| MI-007 (IX) | Taximeters | B + F, B + D, H1 |
| MI-008 (X) | Material measures: length; capacity serving measures | Length: F1, D1, B + D, H, G. Capacity serving: A2, F1, D1, E1, B + E, B + D, H |
| MI-009 (XI) | Dimensional measuring instruments | Mechanical or electromechanical: F1, E1, D1, B + F, B + E, B + D, H, H1, G. Electronic or with software: B + F, B + D, H1, G |
| MI-010 (XII) | Exhaust gas analysers | B + F, B + D, H1 |
| MI-011 (new Annex Va, from 10 October 2028) | Measuring systems for electric vehicle supply equipment | B + F, B + D, G, H1 |
| MI-012 (new Annex VIIa, from 10 October 2028) | Measuring systems for compressed gas dispensers | B + F, B + D, H1, G |
Each Annex sets, where relevant, accuracy classes, operating conditions, and instrument-specific essential requirements in addition to the general requirements in Annex I. Sub-assemblies, such as the flow sensor of a thermal energy meter, can be assessed separately where an instrument-specific annex sets requirements for them (Article 5).
Member State option (Article 3)
The MID does not itself require any measuring task to use a regulated instrument. Under Article 3, Member States may prescribe the use of measuring instruments where justified by public interest, health, safety, public order, the environment, consumer protection, taxation or fair trading. Where they do not, they must tell the Commission and other Member States why. As a result, an instrument type can be subject to MID requirements in one country and not in another for the same use. Before relying on either outcome, check the rules of each Member State of use.
General essential requirements (Annex I)
Annex I sets common requirements for all in-scope instruments: allowable errors, reproducibility, repeatability, discrimination and sensitivity, durability, reliability, influence quantities, suitability, protection against corruption, marking. The instrument-specific annexes add accuracy classes and quantitative limits.
Conformity assessment procedures
Under Article 17, the manufacturer chooses one of the procedures listed in the relevant instrument-specific annex; Annex II sets out what each involves. The usual routes are:
- Module B (EU-type examination) followed by Module D (production quality assurance) or Module F (product verification), and Module E for some instruments;
- Module G (unit verification), where the annex allows it;
- Module H1 (full quality assurance with design examination), available for every MI annex except material measures (MI-008), which use Module H.
Module A (pure self-declaration) is not listed for any instrument. One exception limits Notified Body involvement: for capacity serving measures, Module A2 lets an accredited in-house body carry out the random checks instead. Every other listed route uses a Notified Body. The body's number appears on the instrument where it is involved in the production control phase (Article 22(5)), so Module A2 with an in-house body shows no number. See Notified Bodies.
The "M" supplementary metrology marking
Article 20 requires the CE marking and the supplementary metrology marking. The marking consists of the capital letter "M" and the last two digits of the year of its affixing, surrounded by a rectangle whose height equals that of the CE marking (Article 21(2)). It immediately follows the CE marking, and the Notified Body number comes after both (Article 22(5)). An instrument marked in 2026 therefore reads: CE M26 1234, where 1234 stands for the body's actual four-digit number. The year is the year the marking was affixed, not the year of the type-examination certificate. The marking is used only under the MID and the Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Directive. Both go on the instrument or its data plate, or, if that is not possible or warranted, on the accompanying documents and any packaging (Article 22(1)). For an instrument made up of several devices, they go on the main device (Article 22(2)).
Technical documentation
Article 18 sets the contents, including design and manufacturing drawings, test reports, and solutions adopted where harmonised standards or normative documents were not applied in full. Retention: 10 years after the instrument has been placed on the market (Article 8(3)). See technical documentation.
EU Declaration of Conformity
Article 19 and the model in Annex XIII. A copy must accompany each instrument placed on the market, although this can be applied to a batch or consignment rather than each unit where a large number go to a single user (Annex II). See EU Declaration of Conformity.
National metrological supervision after CE marking
The MID harmonises placing on the market. Member States retain extensive competence over verification in use (such as periodic re-verification), which is not within the MID's scope. National legal-metrology authorities supervise these in-service obligations. The Commission's pages point to WELMEC guidance, including Guide 2 (2023) on the common application of the MID and NAWI Directive, which is useful but not legally binding.
Harmonised standards and normative documents
The MID recognises two routes to presumption of conformity (Article 14). The first is harmonised standards, whose references are published in Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1402, last amended by Decision (EU) 2025/1939. The second is parts of normative documents adopted by OIML, the International Organisation of Legal Metrology, identified in a list published in the OJEU (Articles 14(2) and 15). The Commission's list includes OIML R 49 (water meters), R 137 (gas meters), R 46 (active electrical energy meters), R 75 (heat meters), R 117 (liquid measuring systems), R 51, R 61, R 107, R 50 and R 106 (automatic weighing), R 21 (taximeters) and R 99 (exhaust gas analysers). Check which parts are listed for your annex, because the presumption extends only to those parts.
Recent and upcoming changes
Directive (EU) 2026/706
The 2026 amendment adds measuring systems for electric vehicle supply equipment (MI-011) and compressed gas dispensers (MI-012), and updates Annex I and the annexes on gas meters (MI-002), electrical energy meters (MI-003) and thermal energy meters (MI-004). Its transitional rules are:
- Instruments that conformed to the MID on 8 April 2026 and are placed on the market before 10 October 2028 may still be made available and put into service (Article 2(1)).
- EV charging and gas dispenser measuring systems that comply with national law may be placed on the market until 10 April 2030 (Article 2(2)).
- Certificates issued before 10 October 2028 for instruments within the amended scope remain valid until their end, and no later than 10 April 2038 (Article 2(3)).
- Bodies can be notified under the amended text, and can issue certificates under it, before 10 October 2028 (Article 4).
Evaluation and digitalisation
The Commission's legal metrology page says it is evaluating whether the MID and NAWI Directive remain fit for purpose, with a staff working document on the way forward planned for autumn 2026. Publication could not be confirmed at this review. Separately, the Omnibus IV proposals on digital declarations and instructions list this Directive among the acts to be amended; a provisional agreement was reached on 9 June 2026, and no publication in the Official Journal could be confirmed at this review.
Related legislation
- Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Directive 2014/31/EU — companion regime for non-automatic instruments (separate Directive, similar structure).
- Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU — electricity meters are excluded from the LVD (Annex II). Other electrically powered instruments may be subject to it.
- EMC Directive 2014/30/EU — the MID is a specific Directive for electromagnetic immunity; the EMC Directive continues to apply to emissions (Article 2(2)).
- ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU — applies in parallel where instruments are used in explosive atmospheres.
- Electricity Directive (EU) 2019/944, which recast Directive 2009/72/EC — sets rules on smart metering systems, separately from the MID.
Common errors
- Missing supplementary metrology marking. A CE marking alone is not enough. Failure to affix the M marking, or the Notified Body number where required, is formal non-compliance under Article 45(1) and can lead to restriction or withdrawal if it persists.
- Wrong accuracy class. Several MI Annexes set accuracy classes (e.g., MI-003 distinguishes classes A, B and C for active electrical energy meters). Mis-assignment of class affects conformity throughout.
- Assuming a whole OIML recommendation gives presumption. Only the parts listed in the OJEU do.
- Assuming the MID applies in every Member State. Article 3 leaves the decision to prescribe an instrument to each Member State.
- Planning a 2029 launch on current annexes. Directive (EU) 2026/706 changes the requirements for gas, electricity and thermal energy meters. Check the amended annex and the transitional rules in its Articles 2 and 4 before relying on an existing certificate after 10 October 2028.
- Treating MID conformity as discharging in-service verification. The MID covers placing on the market; in-service verification is a national competence.
Frequently asked questions
Do EV chargers need MID approval?
From 10 October 2028, Directive (EU) 2026/706 adds measuring systems for electric vehicle supply equipment as MI-011. Before then, national rules apply. Systems complying with national law may be placed on the market until 10 April 2030. Whether use is prescribed still depends on Article 3.
What does the M marking on a meter mean?
The capital M in a rectangle, followed by two digits, is the supplementary metrology marking. The digits give the year it was affixed, so M26 means 2026. The four-digit number after it identifies the Notified Body involved in the production control phase.
Does a MID-marked meter also need periodic verification?
It can. The MID covers placing on the market and putting into use. Verification in service is set by national law, so requirements vary by Member State.
Which automatic scales fall under MI-006?
Annex VIII covers automatic catchweighers, including checkweighers and labellers, automatic gravimetric filling instruments, discontinuous and continuous totalisers, and rail-weighbridges. Non-automatic instruments fall under Directive 2014/31/EU instead.
Can a manufacturer self-declare MID conformity?
Not in the Module A sense. Every instrument annex requires third-party involvement. The nearest exception is Module A2 for capacity serving measures, where the random checks may be done by an accredited in-house body.
Sources
- Directive 2014/32/EU (MID) — EUR-Lex consolidated text.
- European Commission — Measuring and weighing instruments in the EU (normative documents, evaluation, WELMEC guides).
- Directive (EU) 2026/706 — EUR-Lex; OJ text (Spanish) via BOE.
- European Commission — Harmonised standards: measuring instruments.
- OIML — International Organization of Legal Metrology.
- Commission Notice — Blue Guide 2022 — EUR-Lex.