Estimated sign

File:Estimated sign detail.svg

Estimated symbol specification

The estimated sign<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or estimated symbol,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Char, (officially, the ℮-mark<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or the final EC verification mark in EU law,<ref name="2009/34/EC" />) can be found on most prepackaged products in the European Union (EU). Its use indicates that the prepackage fulfils EU Directive 76/211/EEC,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which specifies the maximum permitted tolerances in package content.

The shape and dimensions of the e-mark are defined in EU Directive 2009/34/EC.<ref name="2009/34/EC">Template:Citation</ref> The e-mark is also used on prepackages in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Australia and South Africa.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Reference page It must be placed in the same field of vision as the nominal weight or volume quantity, for example, "1Template:NbspmgTemplate:Thinspace℮" or "1Template:NbspLTemplate:Thinspace℮".Template:Cn

Functions

The estimated sign indicates that:

• the average quantity of product in a batch of prepackages shall not be less than the nominal quantity stated on the label;
• the proportion of individual prepackages having a negative error greater than the tolerable negative error shall be sufficiently small for batches of prepackages to satisfy the requirements of the official reference test as specified in legislation;
• none of the prepackages marked have a negative error greater than twice the tolerable negative error (since no such prepackage may bear the sign).

The scope of the directive is limited to prepackages that have a predetermined nominal weight of between 5 g and 10 kg or volume of 5 ml and 10 L, are filled without the purchaser present, and in which the quantity cannot be altered without opening or destroying the packing material.Template:Multiple image

The sign looks like a stylised lowercase "e" and its shape, Template:Char, is precisely defined by the European Union Directive 2009/34/EC. It must be placed in the same field of vision as the nominal quantity. The sign has been added to the Unicode list of characters as Template:Unichar.

Tolerable negative error

Error tolerance decreases as nominal quantity increases, by alternating intervals of a given percentage error with intervals of a given amount error: these interpolate between the stepwise decreases in percentage error. The estimated sign indicates that the average quantity of product in a batch of prepackages is not less than the nominal quantity stated on the label.

The tolerable negative error is related to the nominal quantity and varies between 9 per cent on prepackages nominally 50Template:Nbspg or 50Template:Nbspml or less, to 1.5 per cent on prepackages nominally 1 kilogram or 1 litre or more. The tolerable error decreases as nominal quantity increases, and is done by alternating intervals where there is a percentage error and intervals where there is a fixed error (and thus over those intervals the percentage error decreases).

Table of tolerable negative errors

Nominal quantity in g or ml	Tolerable negative error
Template:05–50Template:0	9%
Template:050–100Template:0	4.5 units
Template:0100–200Template:0	4.5%
Template:0200–300Template:0	9 units
Template:0300–500Template:0	3%
Template:0500–1000Template:0	15 units
Template:01000–10000	1.5%

See also

• CE marking (stylized CЄ)
• EC identification and health marks

External links

• Evertype article
• Council Directive of 20 January 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making-up by weight or by volume of certain prepackaged products
• Summary of EU Legislation on Pre-packed products – how to fill and label the package