Armenian Delegation Conducts Study Visit to Austria and the Czech Republic to Advance Alignment with EU Metrology Standards

The visit aimed to support Armenia’s alignment with key European Union legal metrology directives, including the Measuring Instruments Directive (2014/32/EU), the Non Automatic Weighing Instruments Directive (2014/31/EU), and the Pre packaged Products Directive (76/211/EEC).

The first stop of the Armenian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Hovakimyan was in Vienna. On March 2, at the headquarters of United Nations Industrial Development Organization, discussions focused on progress achieved under the Quality Infrastructure project and explored further opportunities for cooperation in strengthening Armenia’s trade competitiveness and sustainable industrial development. The delegation also met with representatives of the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) and its Physico Technical Testing Service (PTP) to exchange experiences on the implementation of legal metrology regulations and institutional arrangements supporting the national quality infrastructure system.

The study visit of the representatives of state agencies of Armenia continued in Prague with meetings hosted by the Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing (UNMZ) on March 4, where experts presented the Czech legal and institutional framework for quality infrastructure and its integration within the national regulatory system. Representatives of the Czech Trade Inspection provided insights into the country’s market surveillance system and enforcement practices. At the Czech Metrology Institute (CMI), the Armenian delegation learned about the institute’s organizational structure, governance model, and funding mechanisms, with particular attention to institutional sustainability. 

On 5 March, the delegation travelled to the regional branch of the Czech Metrology Institute in České Budějovice, where experts presented the European Union legal framework governing pre-packaged products and demonstrated practical procedures used to verify compliance with the relevant directive. Participants also visited the production facilities of a major local manufacturer, where they observed the practical application of statistical sampling methods and weighing instruments to verify the quantity of pre-packaged products.

The final day of the programme took place in Jihlava and focused on the implementation of the Measuring Instruments Directive (2014/32/EU), particularly its provisions related to fuel dispensers. At the regional branch of the Czech Metrology Institute, experts presented regulatory requirements and demonstrated the equipment used for verification. The delegation then visited fuel stations in the vicinity of Jihlava, where participants observed the practical verification of fuel dispensers and LPG meters, gaining first-hand insight into how EU metrology requirements are applied in operational environments to ensure accurate measurements and consumer protection.

This study visit provided Armenian institutions with valuable practical experience in implementing EU metrology directives and strengthened cooperation with European counterparts. The activity contributes to enhancing Armenia’s quality infrastructure system and supports the country’s commitments under the EU–Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The "Support to Quality Infrastructure in Armenia" project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNIDO, is dedicated to strengthening NBSM’s capacity to provide sustainable, internationally recognized metrology services. By reinforcing Armenia’s legal, institutional, and technical frameworks in metrology, the initiative contributes to the country’s economic diversification and trade competitiveness, in line with the objective of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

For more information, please contact 
Cong WU, Project Manager at C.WU@unido.org or 
Mane Tapaltsyan, National Project Coordinator at m.tapaltsyan@unido.org