Eichamt

Eichamt, short for Weighing and Measuring Office, is a government authority in German-speaking countries responsible for legal metrology. Its core task is to ensure the accuracy and reliability of measuring instruments used in commerce and public life, such as scales, fuel dispensers, taximeters, and water or gas meters.

To fulfill its mandate, the Eichamt conducts type approval for new devices, performs routine verifications, and affixes official marks on instruments that comply with the requirements. It maintains registers of approved devices and, when necessary, coordinates calibration and adjustment services to maintain measurement accuracy.

Legal authority derives from national laws on weighing and measuring and European directives such as the Measuring Instruments Directive. Instruments that pass verification carry an official mark and a validity period, enabling their use in trade and fiscal applications.

In Germany, Eichämter operate at the state level and are typically part of state ministries or regulatory agencies. They work with the national metrology institute, PTB, for standards and with local authorities to enforce compliance across sectors and regions.

Historically, the Eichamt system emerged with the expansion of trade regulation in the 19th and 20th centuries and remains a core component of legal metrology, evolving to cover digital devices and automated measurement systems as technology advances.