Executive Summary
Swiss enforcement authorities inspected and calibrated a total of 157,690 measuring instruments in 2025. The cantons achieved a calibration rate of 97.9% of all required measuring instruments, with 10.7% requiring objections. In the statistical inspection of 584,921 electricity meters, ten batches totaling 17,442 meters were flagged. The Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) coordinates the supervisory authority for metrology law enforcement in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Persons
- METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology) (Supervisory Authority for Metrology Law Enforcement)
Topics
- Metrology law enforcement and metrology
- Quality control of measuring instruments
- Electricity meters and network monitoring
- Vehicle inspections and GPS calibration
Clarus Lead
The quota of calibration-required measuring instruments increased in 2025, but gaps have emerged in critical measuring instruments: GPS devices in cantonal road traffic offices are not consistently calibrated, despite being essential for official vehicle inspections. Additionally, the enforcement rate for pre-packaged goods declined by 3.6 percentage points – a signal that monitoring of quantity declarations in commerce is losing attention. METAS therefore plans awareness-raising measures with the cantons.
Detailed Summary
The 2025 metrology law inspection presents a differentiated picture: While the cantons achieved a high calibration rate of 97.9% for measuring instruments (an increase from 97.2% in the previous year), the rate of flagged measuring instruments was 10.7%, slightly above the previous year's value of 9.9%.
A critical finding concerns official vehicle inspections. METAS conducted inspections for the first time in 2023 at seven cantonal road traffic offices and identified deficiencies in GPS device calibration obligations. A follow-up inspection in 2025 at six additional offices confirmed the problem: there was "lack of clarity and need for explanation" regarding GPS calibration. Additionally, two radar-based speed measurement systems were flagged. METAS subsequently held direct talks with the responsible parties to implement corrections.
In the inspection of pre-packaged goods, a decline was evident: The enforcement rate among industrial manufacturers was 84.0% in 2025, a decrease of 3.6 percentage points compared to 2024. METAS announced that it would raise awareness among cantonal enforcement bodies in upcoming meetings regarding the importance of these inspections.
The monitoring of electricity meters proceeds more stably: In the statistical inspection of 584,921 meters (in 375 batches), ten batches totaling 17,442 meters were flagged – a rate of less than 2%. Approximately 5.8 million electricity meters are installed in the Swiss supply network. For particle measurement devices used in diesel emission testing (in use since 2023), full compliance was demonstrated: all inspected devices possessed national approval and valid calibration.
Key Findings
- 157,690 measuring instruments were inspected and calibrated in 2025; cantons' calibration rate: 97.9%
- GPS calibration in cantonal road traffic offices shows enforcement deficiencies; METAS initiated corrective measures
- Pre-packaged goods inspection in commerce declining (84.0% enforcement rate, -3.6 percentage points); awareness-raising need identified
- Electricity meters reliably monitored (rate of flagged batches <2%)
Critical Questions
Evidence/Data Quality: How is the sample size determined in the statistical inspection of 584,921 electricity meters (375 batches)? Is this rate representative for all 5.8 million meters in the network?
Conflicts of Interest: What incentives do cantonal road traffic offices have to consistently calibrate GPS devices when delays in vehicle inspections have economic consequences?
Causality: The decline in pre-packaged goods enforcement rate by 3.6 points – is this due to fewer inspections or to actually more deviations?
Feasibility: How will METAS concretely design the announced awareness-raising talks with the cantons, and what sanctions follow in case of non-compliance?
Alternative Explanations: Could the GPS calibration deficiencies also indicate insufficient resources or training in the cantonal offices rather than deliberate neglect?
Side Effects: How do delays in calibration affect operational safety of scales in retail or fuel pumps?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Metrology Law Enforcement 2025: METAS Annual Report – news.admin.ch, 07.05.2026
Verification Status: ✓ 07.05.2026
This text was created with the assistance of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 07.05.2026