Engineers are used to interpretating technical standards and tend to interpret law in the same way. This often makes them hold back innovative ideas, missing market opportunities and artificially reducing competitiveness, user friendliness and consumer protection.
Metrology legislation must be technology neutral and open to innovation and technical progress. Long-term stability is needed by all involved parties:
- Manufacturers of measurement equipment need a stable basis product development and marketing;
- users need to use, maintain and repair instruments until the end of their economic lifetime;
- consumers need trustworthy measurements.
Long-term stability along with openness to innovation and technical progress can only be achieved simultaneously, if the legislation defines performance requirements with a high level of abstraction.
In consequence, when interpreting legislation, it is crucial to use all four well-established methods of interpretation from the lawyer's toolbox (grammatical, systematic, historical and teleological).
This is a fundamental difference with respect to technical standards. Those are frequently checked for need of revision, typically at least every three years. Use of standards is voluntary – they cannot prohibit innovation. They are written in such a way that the literal interpretation alone is sufficient; the level of abstraction is much lower.
This course is organised for participants of one single company only, to allow for open discussions of innovative ideas.
Course targets
Participants understand the roles of national metrology legislation, the relevant EU legislation and jurisprudence. They know where to find relevant literature and the four methods of interpretation of the law. Practical examples, tailored to the participant's needs, allow the practical application of this newly acquired knowledge.
