The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

On Uniformity of Measurements

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in the Law

(1) The following terms are used in the Law:

1) reference material - a material or substance the values of one or several qualities of which are sufficiently homogeneous and definable to use them for the calibration of measuring instruments, evaluation of measurement methods, or determination of the value of materials;

1¹) subsequent verification - the periodic verification of measuring instruments after previous verification and also the verification of measuring instruments after repair thereof;

2) pre-packaged product - a product intended for consumption which is pre-packed without the presence of a consumer in certain nominal quantities in a separate packaging of any type which encloses the product in such a way that the contents cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging;

3) calibration - an aggregate of operations which, under specific conditions, establishes a relation between the values of the variables provided by measuring instruments or the measuring system, the existing values of a material measure or reference material and the values reproduced from the corresponding measurement standard;

4) material measure - a measure reproducing or supplying the known quantities of one or several specific variables that is fixed during the use of the measure;

5) traceability of measurements - a relation between the measurement result or the value of the measurement standard with the national or international measurement standard;

6) uniformity of measurements - an expression of measurands in the measurement units specified by law, provided that the values of measurement results have been reproduced from national or international measurement standards and the result error is known with an estimated uncertainty;

7) measuring instrument - device used for making measurements, alone or in conjunction with one or more supplementary devices;

7¹) transfer for use of a measuring instrument - transfer of a measuring instrument to a direct user for initial use in conformity with the intended purpose;

7²) producer of a measuring instrument - a natural or legal person who himself or herself or on behalf of whom another person designs or produces a measuring instrument and places it on the market with his or her name or trademark, or transfers it for use only for personal purposes;

8) approval of measuring instrument type - conformity assessment of the measuring instrument type in accordance with the legal acts which govern the approval of measuring instrument type for use in a regulated field;

9) measurement process - a set of consecutive operations to determine the value of the measurand;

10) measurement standard - a material measure, a measuring instrument, a reference material, or a measuring system which is intended for the definition, realisation, conservation, or reproduction of a measurement unit, the value of one or several quantities;

11) national measurement standard - a standard recognised by a regulation of the Cabinet which serves as a basis of definite quantity for other standard quantities related thereto in the country;

11¹) initial verification - verification of a previously unverified measuring instrument prior to its placing on the market or putting into service;

12) legal metrology - a field of metrology which includes those requirements and norms that are determined and controlled by the State;

13) international measurement standard - a standard recognised by an international agreement which serves as a basis of definite quantity for other standard quantities related thereto;

13¹) statistical verification - a procedure for extending the subsequent verification periodicity of measuring instruments based on the results of the subsequent verification of a specific quantity of random measuring instruments that represents the batch of measuring instruments and the application of these results to the entire batch of the relevant measuring instruments;

14) State Register of Measuring Instruments - a list of approved national measuring instrument types which are permitted to be used in the Republic of Latvia in the fields subject to metrological control;

15) State metrological supervision - a particular activity of a State authority the purpose of which is to examine the compliance with the laws and regulations in the field of legal metrology;

16) verification - a set of operations to establish and confirm that the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control conform to the specified requirements.

(2) Other terms and concepts in this Law are used within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on market surveillance and compliance of products and amending Directive 2004/42/EC and Regulations (EC) No 765/2008 and (EU) No 305/2011.

[1 April 1998; 5 April 2001; 22 June 2006; 2 May 2013; 22 February 2024]

Section 2. Purpose of the Law

(1) The purpose of this Law is to ensure the uniformity of measurements in the Republic of Latvia to protect the human life and health, the environment and the consumer from the negative consequences of inaccurate and incorrect measurements and to promote the development of national economy and international cooperation.

(2) The uniformity of measurements in the State shall be ensured by the traceability of measurements to the national and international measurement standards.

(3) The Law prescribes the general metrological requirements for measuring instruments and pre-packaged products intended for distribution.

[5 April 2001]

Chapter II
Measurement Units

Section 3. System of Measurement Units

(1) The International System of Units accepted at the General Conference on Weights and Measures shall be used in the Republic of Latvia.

(2) The Cabinet shall approve the names and spelling of measurement units, and also the procedures for the use thereof.

[2 May 2013]

Section 4. Off-system Measurement Units

[2 May 2013]

Chapter III
Physical Reproduction of Measurement Units

Section 5. Measurement Standards

(1) Measurement units of physical quantities shall be reproduced with the help of national measurement standards.

(2) The list of national measurement standards developed by the national metrology authority shall be approved by the Cabinet.

(3) The traceability of measurements to international measurement standards and the reproduction of measurement units must be ensured for national measurement standards.

[4 March 1999; 22 June 2006; 14 November 2008; 12 June 2009; 2 May 2013]

Chapter IV
Measuring Instruments

Section 6. Conformity of Measuring Instruments

(1) Measuring instruments that are subject to the State metrological control must conform to the requirements prescribed in this Law and other legal acts.

(2) The metrological requirements for the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control and the procedures for the metrological control thereof shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[5 April 2001]

Chapter V
State Metrological Control and Supervision

Section 7. Fields of the State Metrological Control of Measuring Instruments

(1) The measuring instruments used in the following fields shall be subject to the State metrological control:

1) protection of human life and health;

2) control of medicinal products, perfumery and cosmetic products, and food products;

3) environmental protection and control;

4) control of occupational safety, technical safety, and traffic safety;

5) trade, banking, tax, customs, and postal operations;

6) accounting of energy sources and other resources;

7) geodesy and hydrometeorology works;

8) investigation and expert-examination.

(2) The Cabinet shall approve the list of the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control, indicating their initial verification and also the periodicity of subsequent verifications, and the procedures for its extension.

[22 June 2006; 2 May 2013; 22 February 2024]

Section 8. Types of the State Metrological Control of Measuring Instruments

The following types of the State metrological control are specified for measuring instruments:

1) conformity assessment or type approval and initial verification;

2) subsequent and statistical verification of measuring instruments in use;

3) State metrological supervision.

[2 May 2013; 22 February 2024]

Section 9. Organisation of the Metrological Control of Measuring Instruments

(1) The measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control shall be placed on the market and transferred for use after conformity assessment or type approval and initial verification.

(2) The conformity assessment of measuring instruments shall be carried out in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments. The type approval and initial verification of measuring instruments shall be carried out in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the metrological control.

(3) The national types of the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control shall be approved by the national metrology authority by entering them in the State Register of Measuring Instruments.

(4) A subsequent and statistical verification of the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control shall be carried out by inspection bodies accredited in the regulated field on the accreditation of which the national accreditation authority has published a notification on its official website.

(5) The types of measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control shall be approved and the initial verification thereof shall be carried out by certification and inspection bodies accredited in the regulated field on the accreditation of which the national accreditation authority has published a notification on its official website.

(6) A positive result of the initial and subsequent verification of measuring instruments shall be confirmed by attaching a special mark to the measuring instrument or issuing a certificate of verification. The samples of a verification mark of measuring instruments and information to be included in a certificate of verification shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(6¹) In the case of statistical verification, the conformity of measuring instruments with the requirements shall be approved by a certificate issued by an accredited inspection body for the extension of the subsequent verification periodicity of measuring instruments.

(7) The conformity assessment of measuring instruments shall, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations governing the conformity assessment of the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control, be carried out by the notified bodies - the measuring instrument conformity assessment bodies accredited by the national accreditation authority of which the European Commission has been notified or the notified measuring instrument conformity assessment bodies of other European Union Member States or countries of the European Economic Area.

(8) The calibration of measuring instruments shall be carried out by the calibration laboratories accredited by the national accreditation authority or other European Union Member States or countries of the European Economic Area in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations governing the calibration of measuring instruments.

[2 May 2013; 22 February 2024]

Section 10. Conformity Control of the Declared Quantity of the Content of Pre-packaged Products

(1) The quantity of the content of the pre-packaged products intended for the distribution and labelling on the packaging shall comply with this Law and the legal acts regarding metrological requirements for pre-packaged products and the metrological control thereof.

(2) The Cabinet shall prescribe the metrological requirements and the procedures for metrological control for pre-packaged products.

(3) The Cabinet shall approve the list of standard values for the nominal quantity of the content of pre-packaged products and the nominal volume of packaging.

[5 April 2001; 2 May 2013]

Section 10.¹ State Metrological Supervision Organisation

(1) The Consumer Rights Protection Centre shall perform the State metrological supervision.

(2) The Consumer Rights Protection Centre is entitled to carry out metrological supervision at the places where measuring instruments are produced, distributed, used, or repaired and at the places where pre-packaged products are produced or distributed.

(3) The Consumer Rights Protection Centre shall have the following functions:

1) to carry out the surveillance of measuring instrument market;

2) to carry out the metrological supervision of the measurement instruments put into service;

3) to carry out the metrological control of pre-packaged products.

(4) The Consumer Rights Protection Centre is entitled to request and receive free of charge samples of measuring instruments at the production and distribution sites of measuring instruments, to make control purchases for the purchase of measuring instrument samples, including without disclosing the fact of inspection and also without disclosing the identity of the inspecting person or using another identity, and to organise laboratory or other type of expert-examination to ascertain that measuring instruments conform to this Law and the legal acts regarding metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof. The expenses for expert-examination, control purchase, moving of samples from the sampling point to the performer of expert-examination and back or to the destruction site of the samples, and also the expenses associated with the destruction of the samples shall be covered in accordance with the Law on Conformity Assessment. The procedures by which the Consumer Rights Protection Centre requests and receives product samples, and also handles them after laboratory or other type of expert-examination shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(4¹) [22 February 2024]

(5) [22 February 2024]

(6) When conducting the metrological supervision of the measuring instruments put into service, the Consumer Rights Protection Centre is entitled:

1) to request that a user removes a measuring instrument from use and conduct its extraordinary verification or calibration if there are suspicions of the non-conformity of this measuring instrument with the legal acts regarding the subsequent verification or calibration. The procedures for conducting extraordinary verification or calibration shall be determined by the Cabinet;

2) to control the fulfilment of measurement processes and conformity of the precision of measuring instruments with the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof;

3) to suspend the use of a measuring instrument until the rectification of the non-conformity or prohibit its use if the non-conformity of the measuring instrument with the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof has been established.

(7) Expenses for the extraordinary verification or calibration referred to in Paragraph six, Clause 1 of this Section shall be covered by the Consumer Rights Protection Centre.

(8) [22 February 2024]

(8¹) [22 February 2024]

(8²) [22 February 2024]

(9) If a measuring instrument removed from use does not conform with the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof, the expenses for the extraordinary verification or calibration of the measuring instrument shall be compensated by the user of the measuring instrument within five days after receipt of a document supporting the relevant expenses. If the user of the measuring instrument refuses to compensate the expenses, the Consumer Rights Protection Centre shall recover them under civil proceedings.

(10) When performing the metrological control of pre-packaged products in conformity with the legal acts regarding the requirements for pre-packaged products and metrological control thereof, the Consumer Rights Protection Centre is entitled:

1) to request an receive free of charge samples of pre-packaged products at the places of their production and distribution;

2) to suspend the sale of non-conforming batches of pre-packaged products until rectification of the established non-conformities.

[2 May 2013; 3 October 2019; 22 February 2024]

Section 10.² Procedures for Appealing Decisions of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre

(1) The decision of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre shall be in effect from the moment it has been taken.

(2) The decisions of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre may be appealed to a court in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law. The appeal of a decision shall not suspend the operation thereof.

[2 May 2013; 22 February 2024]

Section 11. Rights and Obligations of Natural Persons and Legal Persons

(1) Natural persons and legal persons have the right to receive from the national metrology authority any information related to the provision of uniformity of measurements in the State.

(2) In compliance with this Law and the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof, the persons who are using the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control have the obligation to ensure:

1) correctness of measurements;

2) proper use of measurement units and designations thereof;

3) proof for the conformity assessment of measuring instruments before putting into service thereof and also retention of the relevant labelling and seals;

4) conformity with periodicity for subsequent verification or calibration of measuring instruments;

5) proper performance of the measurement process;

6) conformity with the provisions for the use of measuring instruments.

(3) Prior to placing on the market and putting into service of measuring instruments, the producer of measuring instruments has the obligation to ensure designing, production, and conformity assessment procedures in compliance with this Law and the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof. In the cases specified in the abovementioned laws and regulations, a part of the obligations of the producer may be fulfilled by an authorised representative of the producer.

(4) Prior to placing on the market and putting into service of measuring instruments, the importer of measuring instruments has the obligation to ensure the conformity with this Law and the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof.

(5) Prior to making available on the market and putting into service of measuring instruments, the distributor of measuring instruments has the obligation to ascertain that they conform to this Law and the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof, including he or she shall ascertain that a measuring instrument is labelled with the relevant conformity and informative labels, secured with seals which prevent from adjusting metrological parameters of a measuring instrument, and that it has been appended with all the necessary conformity assessment documents, and also with instructions for use in the official language.

(6) The persons who are installing the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control shall be responsible for the conformity of installation of the measuring instrument with the instructions of the producer and the legal acts regarding the requirements for measuring instruments and metrological control thereof.

(7) The producer of pre-packaged products (packer), importer, or distributor who is the first to place the pre-packaged products on the market of Latvia shall be responsible for the conformity of the quantity of the content of pre-packaged products and labelling on the packaging thereof with this Law and the legal acts regarding the requirements for pre-packaged products and metrological control thereof.

[2 May 2013]

Chapter VI
Organisational Structure for Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements

Section 12. Ministry of Economics

The Ministry of Economics shall develop a State policy for ensuring the uniformity of measurements.

Section 13. National Metrology Council

(1) The National Metrology Council shall participate in forming a State policy on matters related to the uniformity of measurements.

(2) The National Metrology Council shall be an advisory authority comprised of the authorised representatives of the sectors of the national economy. By-laws of this Council shall be approved by the Cabinet. The personnel of the Council shall be approved by the Minister for Economics.

[2 May 2013]

Section 14. National Metrology Authority

(1) The national metrology authority shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) [12 June 2009]

(3) The main tasks of the national metrology authority shall be as follows:

1) to ensure a base of standards of physical quantity measurement units and reproduction of measurement units;

2) to approve national measuring instrument types and register them in the State Register of Measuring Instruments;

3) to perform conformity assessment procedures for the measuring instruments subject to State metrological control;

4) to provide calibration services;

5) [12 June 2009];

6) to cooperate with metrology organisations of other countries;

7) to engage in the work of international metrology organisations;

8) to organise inter-laboratory comparisons and to participate therein;

9) to organise training in the field of metrology.

(4) The pricelist of the public paid services of the national metrology authority shall be approved by the Cabinet.

(5) The decisions taken by the national metrology authority may be contested by submitting an application to the head of the national metrology authority. Decisions taken by the head of the national metrology authority may be appealed to a court in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law. The contesting and appeal of a decision shall not suspend the operation of the decision.

[22 June 2006; 12 June 2009; 2 May 2013; 3 October 2019; 22 February 2024]

Section 15. State Metrological Inspection

[22 June 2006]

Chapter VII
Financing

Section 16. Financing of Metrological Activities

(1) The following shall be financed from the funds of the State budget:

1) the purchase, development, maintenance, and improvement of measurement standards;

2) the participation fees in international metrology organisations;

3) the State programmes in the field of legal metrology;

4) the State metrological supervision.

(2) [1 April 1998]

(3) All expenditures which are associated with the approval of measuring instrument types, conformity assessment, and calibration services provided by the national metrology authority, and also inter-laboratory comparisons and training in the field of metrology shall be covered by natural or legal persons according to the procedures laid down in the legal acts regarding prices of public services.

[1 April 1998; 22 June 2006; 12 June 2009; 2 May 2013]

Chapter VIII
Contracts

[2 May 2013]

Section 17. International Agreements

[2 May 2013]

Chapter IX
Administrative Offences in the Field of Uniformity of Measurements and Competence in the Administrative Offence Proceedings

[3 October 2019 / The new wording of the Chapter shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 18. Non-conformity with the Requirements for the Installation, Use, or Operation of Measuring Instruments

(1) For the use of such measuring instruments for which the conformity assessment procedures have not been conducted in accordance with the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements, a warning or a fine from two to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but from six to three hundred and sixty units of fine - on a legal person.

(2) For the use of such measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control which are not verified or calibrated, a warning or a fine from two to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but from six to three hundred and sixty units of fine - on a legal person.

(3) For the use of such measuring instruments which fail to ensure the conformity of precision of measurements with the metrological requirements laid down in legal acts, a warning or a fine from two to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but from six to four hundred and twenty units of fine - on a legal person.

(4) For non-conforming installation of the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control, a warning or a fine from two to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but from six to four hundred and twenty units of fine - on a legal person.

(5) For the failure to comply with the operating regulations for the measuring instruments subject to the State metrological control and incorrect performance of the measurement processes related thereto, a warning or a fine from two to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but from six to four hundred and twenty units of fine - on a legal person.

[3 October 2019 / The new wording of the Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 19. Non-conformity of the Quantity of the Content of the Products Prepared for the Distribution with the Laws and Regulations Regarding Metrological Requirements for Pre-packaged Products

For the non-conformity of the quantity of the content of the products prepared for the distribution with the legal acts regarding the metrological requirements for pre-packaged products, a warning or a fine from two to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but from six to five hundred and eighty units of fine - on a legal person.

[3 October 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 20. Competence in the Process of Administrative Offences

The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Sections 18 and 19 of this Law shall be conducted by the Consumer Rights Protection Centre.

[3 October 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Transitional Provisions

[4 March 1999]

1. The Minister for Economics shall approve the statutes of valsts bezpeļņas sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs" [State non-profit limited liability company Latvian National Metrology Centre] and submit for registration in the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latvia by 1 April 1999.

2. The National Standardisation and Metrology Centre of Latvia shall operate until the registration of valsts bezpeļņas sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs" in the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latvia.

3. The non-profit organisation valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs" shall be transformed into sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs" [limited liability company Latvian National Metrology Centre] and applied for registration in the Commercial Register not later than by 31 October 2004. Until registration of sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs" in the Commercial Register, the tasks of the Metrology Centre specified in this Law shall be performed by the non-profit organisation valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs".

[27 May 2004]

4. Section 9, Paragraph 4.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 August 2005.

[27 May 2004]

5. The Cabinet shall approve the by-laws of the Metrology Agency by 31 July 2006.

[22 June 2006]

6. Up to the commencement of the operations of the Metrology Agency, valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs" shall perform the functions of the Metrology Agency specified in this Law.

[22 June 2006]

7. Until 31 December 2006, valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Nacionālais metroloģijas centrs" shall perform the initial and subsequent verification of the measuring instruments subject to State metrological control and ensure the accreditation of their laboratories in the regulated field at the State agency Latvian National Accreditation Bureau.

[22 June 2006]

8. Reorganisation of the State Metrological Inspection shall be commenced from 1 August 2006, merging it with the Consumer Rights Protection Centre.

[22 June 2006]

9. Until 31 July 2006, the State Metrological Inspection shall perform the functions of the Consumer Rights Protection Centre laid down in this Law.

[22 June 2006]

10. Until the day of coming into force of new Cabinet regulations, but not later than by 31 December 2006, Cabinet Regulation No. 452 of 28 June 2005, Regulations Regarding Verification of Measuring Instruments, Verification Certificates and Verification Marks, shall be in force insofar as it is not in contradiction with this Law.

[22 June 2006]

11. Performance of the functions specified in Section 9, Paragraphs eight and nine of this Law shall be commenced by the Consumer Rights Protection Centre from 1 August 2006.

[22 June 2006]

12. Until 1 January 2014, the Cabinet shall issue the regulations which determine the authority that performs the functions of the national metrology authority.

[2 May 2013]

13. Until the day of coming into force of the Cabinet regulations referred to in Paragraph 12 of these Transitional Provisions, the Metrology Office of sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Standartizācijas, akreditācijas un metroloģijas centrs" [limited liability company Standardisation, Accreditation, and Metrology Centre] shall be the national metrology authority referred to in Section 14 of this Law and shall be liable for compliance with this Law and other laws and regulations in the field of metrology.

[2 May 2013]

14. Until the day of coming into force of the Cabinet regulations referred to in Paragraph 12 of these Transitional Provisions, the notification of the National Accreditation Authority on the accredited authorities laid down in this Law shall not be published on the official website of the National Accreditation Authority but in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

[2 May 2013]

15. Amendment regarding the new wording of Chapter IX of this Law shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[3 October 2019]

16. Until 31 December 2019, the Cabinet shall approve the pricelist of the paid services laid down in Section 14, Paragraph four of this Law.

[3 October 2019]

Informative Reference to European Union Directives

[2 May 2013]

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 27 February 1997.

President G. Ulmanis

Rīga, 11 March 1997

¹The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2025 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)