Bolivia (Plurinational State of) has established mandatory technical and metrological standards for scales and weighing instruments to prevent deceptive practices, including model approval procedures and conformity assessments, through Ministerial Resolution MDPyEP/DESPACHO/No. 017.2024 and Supreme Decree No. 5103, and has published a draft technical regulation for the approval of balances and weighing instruments covering specific HS codes.
Bolivia Requires Model Approval for Scales and Balances
Mandatory technical standards and conformity assessments now apply to weighing instruments.
What changed
Model approval required for automatic weighing instruments to prevent deceptive practices.
Conformity assessment mandatory under the Technical Regulation ‘Approval of scales model’.
Draft regulation published expanding approval requirements to additional balances.
Who it affects
Importers of scales and balances must verify model approval for covered HS codes.
Manufacturers of weighing devices must comply with established test methods.
Compliance Requirements for Scales and Weighing Instruments in Bolivia
Bolivia has established a mandatory regulatory framework for the approval of scales and weighing instruments to prevent deceptive practices, governed by Ministerial Resolution MDPyEP/DESPACHO/No. 017.2024 and Supreme Decree No. 5103. The regulations apply to non-automatic weighing instruments (scales) of accuracy classes I, II, III, and IV, covering domestic production, assembly, and imports1. The final measure enters into force on 29 September 20242.
Regulation Analysis
1. Scope and Applicability
The Technical Regulation "Approval of Scales Model" applies to:
- Non-automatic weighing instruments (scales) of accuracy classes I, II, III, and IV1.
- Economic actors: Manufacturers, assemblers, importers, and traders (domestic or foreign, public or private) involved in the production, assembly, or importation of scales in Bolivia1.
- HS Codes Covered:
- 842310: Personal weighing machines (e.g., baby scales, household scales).
- 842330: Constant-weight scales and scales for discharging predetermined weights (excluding continuous weighing scales).
- 84238: Other weighing machinery1.
2. Key Requirements
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Deadline/Threshold | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministerial Resolution MDPyEP/DESPACHO/No. 017.2024 | Mandatory model approval for scales, including technical and metrological compliance with OIML R 76-1-2006 and Bolivian Standard NB 23001-1:20121. | Enters into force: 29 September 20242. | Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy (MDPyEP)2. |
| Supreme Decree No. 5103 | Establishes conformity assessment procedures for model approval, including testing and certification2. | Published: 17 January 20242. | MDPyEP and National Metrological Service (SERMETRO)1. |
| National Metrology Law (Decree Law No. 15380) | Requires compliance with metrological standards enforced by SERMETRO1. | Enacted: 28 March 19781. | SERMETRO (under Supreme Decree No. 19213)1. |
3. Conformity Assessment Process
- Model Approval Application:
- Testing and Certification:
- Approval Issuance:
- Granted by MDPyEP upon successful conformity assessment2.
4. Enforcement and Penalties
- Preventing Deceptive Practices: The primary objective is to protect consumers from inaccurate measurements1.
- Non-Compliance: While penalties are not explicitly detailed in the provided sources, enforcement falls under SERMETRO and MDPyEP1. Violations may result in:
- Rejection of imports or domestic products.
- Revocation of model approval.
- Legal action under Bolivia’s metrology laws1.
5. Stakeholder Responsibilities
- Manufacturers/Importers: Ensure scales meet technical and metrological requirements before market entry1.
- SERMETRO: Oversees compliance with metrological standards1.
- MDPyEP: Issues model approvals and enforces the regulation2.
Key Dates and Deadlines
| Milestone | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Decree No. 5103 published | 17 January 2024 | 2 |
| Ministerial Resolution No. 017.2024 published | 22 February 2024 | 2 |
| Regulation enters into force | 29 September 2024 | 2 |
| Draft comment period (60 days) | Closed (proposed adoption: 28 November 2023) | 1 |
Summary Answer
Bolivia’s Technical Regulation "Approval of Scales Model", approved via Ministerial Resolution MDPyEP/DESPACHO/No. 017.2024 and supplemented by Supreme Decree No. 5103, mandates model approval and conformity assessment for non-automatic weighing instruments (HS codes 842310, 842330, 84238) to prevent deceptive practices2, 1. The regulation applies to accuracy classes I–IV and requires compliance with OIML R 76-1-2006 and NB 23001-1:2012, enforced by the Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy (MDPyEP) and SERMETRO1. The final measure takes effect on 29 September 2024, with economic actors responsible for ensuring pre-market compliance2. For further details, stakeholders may contact the Vice-Ministry of Industrialization Policies or access the final regulation texts via the provided WTO links2.
Sources
- ↩ Proyecto de Reglamento Técnico "Aprobación de modelo de balanzas" (Draft Technical Regulation "Approval of scales model"); (17 pages, in Spanish) _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN23/BOL24.DOCX
- ↩ TECHNICAL REGULATION "APPROVAL OF SCALES MODEL" •••See below table 001 Description: The Plurinational State of Bolivia hereby advises that the Ministry of Productive Development and the Plural Economy has issued Ministerial Resolution MDPyEP/DESPACHO/No. 017.2024, which approves the Technical Regulation "Approval of scales model" establishing the technical and metrological requirements, test methods and conformity assessment procedure for the approval of model automatic weighing instruments, "scales", in order to prevent deceptive practices. Supreme Decree No. 5103 of 17 January 2024 has been published to supplement the above-mentioned Technical Regulation. •••Table001 | Reason for Addendum: | | _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN23/BOL24A1.DOCX