National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)

The NSAI, operating under the National Standards Authority of Ireland Act (1996), provides the technical infrastructure for products and services to be recognised and trusted around the world.

It is Ireland’s official standards body and a provider of certification leading to national conformity marking and CE marking enabling businesses demonstrate that Irish goods and services conform to international, European and Irish standards across a range of products and services.

The NSAI National Metrology Laboratory houses and maintains national standards for physical quantities providing traceability of measurement throughout the economy to internationally recognised specifications. The NSAI Legal Metrology Service enforces measurement accuracy in trade measurements though its inspection of quantities of packed goods and measuring equipment in daily use, for the benefit of consumers and businesses alike.

The NSAI also represents Ireland in European and international standards and measurement bodies, representing Irish interests and benefitting from shared expertise and experience to ensure a high level of protection and fair trade conditions.

Related legislation

The National Standards Authority of Ireland Act 1996 establishes the national standards authority of Ireland as an independent statutory body, to transfer functions relating to standard specifications and standard marks for commodities, processes and practices from Forfás to the authority and to provide for related matters.

Through the Legal Metrology Service, NSAI is also responsible for enforcement of the Packaged Goods (Quantity Control) Act 1980, the Metrology Act 1996 and the implementation of the Legal Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Act 2017. The Acts and ensuing regulations, including transpositions of EU legal metrology legislation, relate to measurements used, and the supply and use of measuring instruments in trade and other prescribed purposes.