Cyprus is an independent, sovereign republic with a presidential system of government. Under the 1960 Constitution the executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic, elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term of office. The legislative power in the Republic is exercised by the House of Representatives. For administrative purposes, the country is divided into 6 districts, 33 municipal councils and 486 councils of communities.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean , with an area of 9 251 m 2 and a population of approximately 793 000 (2001 estimate). Population distribution by ethnic group is: 80,7% Greek Cypriots, (including 0,8% Maronites, 0,4% Armenians, 0,1% Latins), 11% Turkish Cypriots and 8,3% foreigners residing in Cyprus.
Organisational Structure and Background
Central Government exercises metrological control through the Weights and Measures Service (WMS), which is part of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. The main functions of WMS concern the application of SI units, the custody and maintenance of measurement standards, the initial and periodic verification of measuring instruments used in trade transactions and in industrial production and the control of pre-packaged products sold by mass, volume, length, area or number.
A uniform system of weights and measures was first introduced in Cyprus in 1890 and the SI units became the legal units of measurement in 1988. The existing legal basis for the WMS's activities is the Weights and Measures Law of 1974 to 2002 and the various sets of regulations made thereunder.
At present, a major reorganization programme is under way in Cyprus , aiming a t m odernizing and strengthening WMS's infrastructure, both in terms of technical means and staff.
Equipment Subject to National Controls
- Simple length measures in trade use
- Non-liquid volume measures
- Liquid volume measures
- Dipsticks
- Medium and higher accuracy weights
- Liquid volume metering instruments
- Petroleum
- Bulk milk
- Heating oil
- Cold water meters
- Electricity meters
- Non-automatic weighing instruments
- Self-indicating
- Non-self-indicating
- Automatic weighing instruments
- Continuous totalizing
- Gravimetric filling
- Catch weighers
- Checkweighers
- Weight graders
- Road traffic instruments
- Taximeters
- Tyre pressure gauges
- Measuring instruments for grading cereals
- Alcoholometers and alcohol hydrometers.
All instruments are generally subject to type approval, initial verification and mandatory periodic verification.
Type Approval
Although type approval is required for all instruments, the WMS, which is responsible for all activities relating to type approvals, cannot carry out the complete set of tests required for each approval, due to lack of adequate facilities.
Initial Verification
At present, initial verification is performed by the WMS. Verification fees are prescribed under the Weights and Measures Regulations of 1981 to 2000, which are approved by the House of Representatives.
Inspection and Reverification
A mandatory reverification system operates in Cyprus , supplemented by random inspection. These activities are carried out by the WMS. Typical reverification intervals are:
| weighing instruments in trade use |
2 years |
| trade weights |
2 years |
| petrol pumps in trade use |
1 years |
Fees for reverification are the same as those for initial verification.
Repairers cannot reverify instruments after repair.
Legal Metrology Practitioners and Scope
WMS employs 3 Weights and Measures Officers and 1 Inspector for all the activities of WMS; that is, initial verification, reverification and inspection, as well as control of average quantity of pre-packages. Officers are required to have a university science or engineering degree and the Inspectors a diploma from technical college. Training is vocational. WMS will investigate complaints about inaccurate instruments or shor t m easure and will provide advice to businesses on legal requirements
Sanctions
There is no provision for the imposition of administrative fines. Infringements of legislation are dealt with by prosecution in a Court of Law or by a written or verbal warning.
Directive 90/384/EEC
This Directive will start being implemented as of 1 st May 2004 , when Cyprus becomes officially a full member of the European Union. Already, regulations fully harmonized with the Directive have been approved by the House of Representatives.
All categories of instruments under Article 1(2)(a) are already subject to national control. Under the new, harmonized regulations on non-automatic weighing instruments, there are no requirements specifying particular applications for each instrument accuracy class.
Applicable mean gravity value for Cyprus : g = 9,7973 m/s 2 .
Directory Contact Point
Ntinos Hadjiconstantinou
Head
Weights and Measures Service
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
1421 Lefkosia
Cyprus
Tel: +357 22 409366
Fax: +357 22 754103
E-mail: nhadjiconstantinou@mcit.gov.cy
Updated October 2006
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