What is the National Measurement Office?

The history of the NMO goes back to the Magna Carta, but more recently it was known as the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML). In 2006, NWML became responsible for the enforcement of RoHS Regulations (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2008) in the UK. On the 28 June 2007 NWML (more recently renamed the National Measurement Office) became part of the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Since 1 April 2009 the Unit in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) responsible for the NMS was transferred here and the Agency as a consequence became responsible for the NMS Programme, a key resource for innovation which provides funding for the National Measurement Institutes in the UK.

In recognition of the significance of this expansion the Agency changed its name to the National Measurement Office from 1 April 2009. The National Measurement Office (NMO) continued to be an Executive Agency of DIUS.

The newly expanded Agency is now responsible for all aspects of the national measurement system, which includes investment in the UK’s scientific measurement infrastructure in addition to policy on national legal metrology.

In 2009 NMO were appointed as the market surveillance authority (MSA) under the European Union Energy Using Products and Energy Labelling Framework Directives. The MSA is in place to make sure that product claims under energy labelling (such as “A-rated fridges”) and minimum energy standards are adhered to by manufacturers, and where necessary, retailers.

Or in short, they are the same people that deal with the fridge labels that we all know and love.