28.3.74 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 84/3 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 4 March 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to weights of from 1 mg to 50 kg of above-medium accurzcy (74/148/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro- pean Economic Community; and in particular Article 100 thereof; Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; Having regard to the Opinion of the European Par- ~ liament; Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee; Whereas the manufacture and the procedures for inspection of weights of above-medium accuracy are subject to strict regulations which differ between Member States and thus hinder trade in these weights; whereas these regulations must therefore be aligned; Whereas the Council Directive of 26 July 1971 (1) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control laid down the EEC pattern approval procedure and the EEC initial verification procedure; whereas, pur- suant to that Directive, the technical specifications which weights of above-medium accuracy must satisfy in order to be put freely on the market and into service, after verifications and affixing of the EEC initial verification mark, must be laid down; Whereas account should be taken of the draft inter- national recommendation, ‘valeur conventionnelle du résultat des pesées dans Iair’, of the International Organization of Legal Metrology, May 1973, in respect of the concept of conventional mass, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 This Directive concerns weights of above-medium accuracy the nominal value of which is equal to 1 mg or more and less than or equal to 50 kg. () OJ No L 202, 26. 7. 1971, p. 1. This Directive does not apply to metric carat weights or to special weights covered by other directives. Article 2 Weights which may receive the EEC marks and signs are listed in the Annex. They are not subject to EEC pattern approval; they must undergo EEC initial verification. Article 3 No Member State may prevent, prohibit or restrict the placing on the market or entry into service of weights referred to in Article 1 and bearing the EEC initial verification mark. Article 4 1. Member States shall put into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions needed in order to comply with this Directive within eighteen months of its notification and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive are communi- cated to the Commission. Article 5§ This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 4 March 1974. For the Council The President W. SCHEEL