Cap. 510 Art. 22Responsibilities of the Standards and Metrology and Metrology Institute.

(1) The responsibilities of the Standards and Metrology

Institute shall be the following:-

(a) to make, adopt and publish standards, in relation to any class, category or type of products and, or services;

(b) to co-ordinate, monitor and promote standardization and related activities at the various corporate, national, regional and international levels, and to supply and, or ensure the existence of adequate supporting related services: For the purpose of this paragraph, "supporting related services" include:

(i) the promotion of adoption and application of all aspects of metrology as a necessary adjunct to standardization;

(ii) the availability or assurance of availability of testing services;

(iii) the offer of certification services;

(c) to act as the competent body for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (Text with EEA relevance) and Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/ EC;

(d) to consider all applications for a permit to use a conformity mark and to grant permits for such purpose;

(e) to inform the public of new subjects included in its standards programme and of preparation or amendment of a standard, unless such standard is an identical or equivalent transposition of an International or European Standard. This information shall indicate, in particular, whether the standard concerned: - will transpose an international standard without being the equivalent; - will be a new national standard; or - will amend a national standard;

(f) to co-operate with National, European, Regional or other international bodies in the field of standardization and to exchange information therewith generally, and in particular to such extent as may be provided for in any international obligation entered into by Malta or as may be prescribed;

(g) to be responsible for the execution, upkeep and conservation of National Measurement Standards and to maintain their accuracy by comparison with international measurement standards;

(h) to provide Working Measurement Standards of suitable accuracy for use in Malta, by comparison with the National Measurement Standards;

(i) to be responsible for the National Measurement Standards and their traceability;

(j) to provide calibration services;

(k) to carry out scientific and technical work in all fields of metrology and measuring methods;

(l) to take part in the work of other national organisations interested in metrology;

(m) to disseminate information relevant to metrology;

(n) to be responsible for the enforcement of all metrology regulations drawn up by virtue of the Metrology Act and other regulations;

(o) to be responsible for the execution and calibration of Measurement Standards and verification equipment;

(p) to oversee, monitor and supervise the manufacture and repair of measuring instruments;

(q) to bring to the attention of the authorities any fraud in relation to measurements in the provision of goods and services;

(r) to provide for the holding of examinations for the purpose of ascertaining whether persons possess sufficient skill, knowledge and professional integrity for the proper performance of their functions to be performed by virtue of the Metrology Act;

(s) to collaborate with the relevant inspection bodies in the fields of measuring instruments and pre-packaged products;

(t) to liaise with other foreign national institutions having similar aims and to represent Malta in international metrological institutions;

(u) to submit an annual report on its work to the Board;

(v) to develop the necessary strategies for the implementation of its responsibilities;

(w) to assist in the drawing up of the Authority’s business plan;

(x) to generally exercise the responsibilities conferred upon it under this Act, and under the Metrology Act and any other Act and regulations made thereunder; and

(y) to generally exercise the responsibilities assigned to it under the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Act and any other Act and regulations made thereunder.

(2) The Standards and Metrology Institute shall be the national body entrusted with the co-ordination of standardization and related activities and shall be responsible for matters related to metrology and legal metrology.

(3) The Standards and Metrology Institute shall also facilitate testing requirements.

(4) The power conferred on the Standards and Metrology Institute to make, adopt and publish standards shall be construed as including the power, exercisable in like manner, to vary, substitute or revoke any such standard.