Service

Verification

Our verifications ensure that measuring instruments subject to verification carry out measurements in compliance with legal requirements. A verified measuring instrument can be recognised by its verification mark, which indicates the validity of the verification and, by extension, fosters trust in its measurement results.

© METAS

• What is verification?

  Verification is the official testing and confirmation that a particular measuring instrument meets the legal requirements. It must be carried out by a cantonal verification office, a METAS-approved verification laboratory or METAS itself. Verification creates legal certainty and ensures reliable measurement results for use in trade and business, healthcare, environmental protection, public safety and official determination of facts.

Our services

• Swiss approval of legally regulated measuring instruments
• Conformity assessments of measuring instruments in the harmonised range
• Initial verification as part of bringing to market a measuring instrument that is within the remit of METAS
• Periodic reverification to maintain measurement stability over the entire service life
• Confirmation that verification has been passed by applying the verification mark (and issuing the verification certificate)

Who we work for

• Emergency services and enforcement organisations as well as authorities (e.g. police, driver and vehicle licensing offices, cantonal environmental authorities)
• Industry, manufacturers and trading companies (including the sale and billing of goods by volume or length)
• Energy supply companies (e.g. gas suppliers, electricity suppliers, thermal energy suppliers)
• Healthcare and medical facilities (e.g. hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, hearing aid audiologists)
• Measuring and testing institutions (e.g. measuring points and measuring laboratories for ionising radiation, acousticians, combustion controllers)

FAQ

• What is the difference between verification and calibration?

  Verification is a prescribed test for legally regulated measuring instruments and confirms that they comply with the legal requirements and error limits. It always leads to a yes/no decision as to whether the measuring instrument may be used. A verification certificate only contains a statement of conformity (compliant/non-compliant), but no evidence of the deviations identified.

  Calibration, on the other hand, is a metrological process in which a measuring instrument is compared with a reference standard in order to determine deviations, measurement uncertainty and measurement accuracy. The end product of a calibration is the calibration certificate. The calibration values are designed to help the user determine the total measurement uncertainty or to correct their own measurement results.

• Who is responsible for verifying my measuring instrument?

  Responsibility for carrying out verification is governed by the Ordinance on Responsibilities in Metrology (ZMessV; SR 941.206).

  According to ZMessV, the cantons are responsible for verifying the following categories of measuring instruments:

  • Length measuring instruments
  • Dimensions
  • Weights
  • Weighing instruments
  • Non-water liquid measuring systems
  • Exhaust gas measuring instruments for internal combustion engines

  METAS is responsible for all other legally regulated measuring instruments.

  Further information can be found in the Ordinance on Responsibilities in Metrology (ZMessV; SR 941.206).

• Will I receive confirmation for the verification?

  Yes. In principle, the verification is confirmed by a verification mark. The verification mark indicates the validity of the current verification and who carried out the verification. Dispensing containers and drinking glasses are an exception and do not bear a verification mark.

  

  © METAS

  In the example shown above, verification is valid until the end of October 2024. It was carried out by Verification Office 1 of the Canton of Bern.

• Which measuring instruments are regulated by law and have to be verified?

  You can find out whether your measuring instrument is legally regulated on the page “Legally regulated measuring instruments”.

• Where can I find the responsible verification office?

  The responsible verification office or verification laboratory can be found on the page “Verification offices and verification laboratories”.

• Where can I find the verification certificate for my measuring instrument?

  You can find the electronic verification certificate for your measuring instrument via the “Certificate search” page, provided one has been issued by METAS.

  You can find more information on the “E-Certificate and e-reports” page.

Verifications by field of expertise

Select one of the tiles below to find out more about verifications in the respective field and to contact the relevant laboratory directly.

More information

• Ordinance on Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments (SR 941.213)

• Messmittel verwenden: Was Sie wissen müssen

  PDF2.06 MB10 July 2026