METROLOGY LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
METROLOGY LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Adopted at the 12th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the
Sixth National People's Congress, promulgated by Order No. 28 of the
President of the People's Republic of China on September 6, 1985, and
effective as of July 1, 1986)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Primary Standard Instruments of Measurement, Standard
Instruments of Measurement and Metrological Verification
Chapter III Administrative Control of Measuring Instruments
Chapter IV Metrological Supervision
Chapter V Legal Liability
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
This Law is formulated to strengthen the metrological supervision and
administration, to ensure the uniformity of the national system of units
of measurement and the accuracy and reliability of the values of
quantities, so as to contribute to the development of production, trade
and science and technology, to meet the needs of socialist modernization
and to safeguard the interests of the state and the people.
Article 2
Within the territory of the People's Republic of China, this Law must be
abided by in establishing national primary standards of measurement and
standards of measurement, in conducting metrological verification, and in
the manufacture, repair, sale or use of measuring instruments.
Article 3
The State shall adopt the International System of Units (SI).
The International System of Units and other units of measurement adopted
by the State shall be the national legal units of measurement. The names
and symbols of the national legal units of measurement shall be
promulgated by the State Council. Non-national legal units of measurement
shall be abrogated. Measures for the abrogation shall be stipulated by the
State Council.
Article 4
The metrological administrative department of the State Council shall
exercise unified supervision over and administration of metrological work
throughout the country. The metrological administrative departments of the
local people's governments at and above the county level shall exercise
supervision over and administration of metrological work within their
respective administrative areas.
Chapter II Primary Standards of Measurement, Standards of Measure- ment and Metrological Verification
Article 5
The metrological administrative department of the State Council shall be
responsible for establishing all kinds of primary standards of
measurement, which shall serve as the ultimate basis for unifying the
values of quantities of the country.
Article 6
The metrological administrative departments of the local people's
governments at or above the county level may, according to the needs of
their respective areas, establish public standards of measurement, which
shall be put into use after being checked and found to be qualified by the
metrological administrative department of the people's government at the
next higher level.
Article 7
The competent department concerned of the State Council and the competent
department concerned of the people's governments of the provinces,
autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central
Government may, in light of their own specific needs, establish standards
of measurement for their own use. The ultimate standard of measurement of
each kind shall be put into use after being checked and found to be
qualified by the metrological administrative authorities of the people's
government at the corresponding level.
Article 8
Enterprises or institutions may, according to their needs, establish
standards of measurement for their own use. The ultimate standard of
measurement of each kind shall be put into use after being checked and
found to be qualified by the metrological administrative department of the
people's government concerned.
Article 9
The metrological administrative departments of the people's governments at
or above the county level shall make compulsory verification of the public
standards of measurement, the ultimate standards of measurement used in
the departments, enterprises and institutions as well as the working
measuring instruments used in settling trade accounts, safety protection,
medical and health work, or environmental monitoring that are listed in
the compulsory verification catalogue. Those measuring instruments which
have not been submitted for verification as required and those which have
been checked and found to be unqualified shall not be used. The catalogue
of the working measuring instruments subject to compulsory verification
and the measures for the administration of such instruments shall be
stipulated by the State Council.
Standards of measurement and working measuring instruments other than
those referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be verified at regular
intervals by the users themselves or by the metrological verification
institutions. The metrological administrative departments of the people's
governments at or above the county level shall supervise and inspect such
verification.
Article 10
Metrological verification shall be conducted according to the National
Metrological Verification System. The National Metrological Verification
System shall be worked out by the metrological administrative department
of the State Council. Metrological verification must be carried out in
accordance with the regulations governing metrological verification. The
national metrological verification regulations shall be formulated by the
metrological administrative department of the State Council. In the case
of certain instruments that are not covered in the national metrological
verification regulations, the competent departments of the State Council
and the metrological administrative departments of the people's
governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly
under the Central Government shall respectively formulate departmental and
local verification regulations. Such verification regulations shall be
submitted to the metrological administrative department of the State
Council for the record.
Article 11
Metrological verification shall, according to the principle of economy and
rationality, be carried out on the spot or in the vicinity.
Chapter III Administrative Control of Measuring Instruments
Article 12
An enterprise or institution which is to engage in manufacturing or
repairing measuring instruments must have facilities, personnel and
verification appliances appropriate to the measuring instruments it is to
manufacture or repair and, after being checked and considered as qualified
by the metrological administrative department of the people's government
at or above the county level, obtain a Licence for Manufacturing Measuring
Instruments or a License for Repairing Measuring Instruments.
The administrative departments for industry and commerce shall not issue a
business licence to an enterprise engaged in manufacturing or repairing
measuring instruments which has not obtained a Licence for Manufacturing
Measuring Instruments or a Licence for Repairing Measuring Instruments.
Article 13
When an enterprise or institution manufacturing measuring instruments
undertakes to manufacture new types of measuring instruments which it has
not previously manufactured, such measuring instruments may be put into
production only after the metrological performance of the sample products
has been checked and found to be qualified by the metrological
administrative department of a people's government at or above the
provincial level.
Article 14
Without the approval of the metrological administrative department of the
State Council, measuring instruments with non-legal units of measurement
which have been abrogated by the State Council, and other measuring
instruments which are banned by the State Council, shall not be
manufactured, sold or imported.
Article 15
An enterprise or institution engaged in manufacturing or repairing
measuring instruments must verify the measuring instruments it has
manufactured or repaired, guarantee the metrological performance of the
products and issue certificates of inspection for the qualified products.
The metrological administrative department of the people's governments at
or above the county level shall supervise and inspect the quality of the
measuring instruments manufactured or repaired.
Article 16
Measuring instruments imported from abroad may be sold only after having
been verified and found to be up to standard by the metrological
administrative department of the people's government at or above the
provincial level.
Article 17
When using measuring instruments, no person shall be allowed to impair
their accuracy, thereby prejudicing the interests of the State and
consumers.
Article 18
Self-employed workers or merchants may manufacture or repair simple
measuring instruments.
Any self-employed worker or merchant who is to engage in manufacturing or
repairing measuring instruments may apply for a business licence from the
administrative department for industry and commerce provided he has been
tested and found to be qualified by the metrological administrative
department of a people's government at the county level, and issued a
Licence for Manufacturing Measuring Instruments or a Licence for Repairing
Measuring Instruments.
The types of measuring instruments which can be manufactured or repaired
by self-employed workers or merchants shall be determined by the
metrological administrative department of the State Council, which shall
also adopt measures for their control.
Chapter IV Metrological Supervision
Article 19
The metrological administrative department of the people's governments at
or above the county level may, according to their needs, appoint
metrological supervisors. The measures for the administration of the
metrological supervisors shall be formulated by the metrological
administrative department of the State Council.
Article 20
The metrological administrative department of the people's governments at
or above the county level may, according to their needs, set up
metrological verification organs or authorize the metrological
verification institutions of other establishments to carry out compulsory
verification and other verification and testing tasks. The personnel
carrying out the tasks of verification and testing mentioned in the
preceding paragraph must be tested for their qualifications.
Article 21
Any dispute over the accuracy of measuring instruments shall be handled in
accordance with the data provided after verification with the national
primary standards of measurement or public standards of measurement.
Article 22
A product quality inspection agency which is to provide notarial data on
the quality of products for society must be checked for its capability and
reliability of metrological verification and testing by the metrological
administrative department of a people's government at or above the
provincial level.
Chapter V Legal Liability
Article 23
Whoever without a Licence for Manufactured Measuring Instruments or a
Licence for Repairing Measuring Instruments manufactures or repairs
measuring instruments shall be ordered to stop his production or business
operations. His unlawful income shall be confiscated and a fine may
concurrently be imposed.
Article 24
Whoever manufactures or sells a new type of measuring instrument which has
not been checked and found to be qualified shall be ordered to stop the
manufacture or sale of that new product. His unlawful income shall be
confiscated and he may concurrently be punished by a fine.
Article 25
Whoever manufactures, repairs or sells unqualified measuring instruments
shall have his unlawful income confiscated and a fine may concurrently be
imposed.
Article 26
Whoever uses measuring instruments subject to compulsory verification
without having filed an application for verification as required or
continues to use measuring instruments which have been checked but found
to be unqualified shall be ordered to stop the use and may concurrectly be
punished by a fine.
Article 27
Whoever uses unqualified measuring instruments or impairs the accuracy of
measuring instruments, thus causing losses to the State and consumers,
shall be ordered to make compensation for the losses and shall have his
measuring instruments and unlawful income confiscated and may concurrently
be punished by a fine.
Article 28
Whoever manufactures, sells or uses measuring instruments for the purpose
of deceiving consumers shall have his measuring instruments and unlawful
income confiscated and may concurrently be punished by a fine. If the
circumstances are serious, the individual or the person in the unit who is
directly responsible shall be investigated for his criminal responsibility
according to the crimes of swindling or speculation.
Article 29
When any individual or unit, in violation of the provisions of this Law,
manufactures, repairs or sells unqualified measuring instruments leading
to people's injury or death or causing major property losses, the
individual or the person in the unit who is directly responsible shall be
investigated for his criminal responsibility by reference to the
provisions of Article 187 of the Criminal Law.
Article 30
A metrological supervisor who transgresses the law and neglects his duty,
where the circumstances are serious, shall be investigated for criminal
responsibility pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law. If
the circumstances are minor, he shall be given an administrative sanction.
Article 31
The administrative sanction provided for in this Law shall be determined
by the metrological administrative department of a people's government at
or above the county level. The administrative sanction provided for in
Article 27 of this Law may also be determined by the administrative
departments for industry and commerce.
Article 32
A party who refuses to accept the decision of the administrative sanction
may, within 15 days after receipt of the notification of the decision,
file suit in a people's court. If within that time limit the party does
not file suit or comply with the penalty of paying a fine and having his
unlawful income confiscated, the administrative authorities which have
made the decision of the administrative sanction may request the people's
court for compulsory execution.
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Article 33
Measures for the administration of and supervision over metrological work
in the Chinese People's Liberation Army and in units under the
jurisdiction of the Commission on Science, Technology and Industry for
National Defence shall be formulated separately by the State Council and
the Central Military Commission in accordance with this Law.
Article 34
The metrological administrative department of the State Council shall, in
accordance with this Law, formulate rules for its implementation, which
shall go into effect after being submitted to and approved by the State
Council.
Article 35
This Law shall go into effect on July 1, 1986.
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.