Testing, measurement, analyses and inspections

An unqualified (free) trade (field no. 65) covering testing, measurement and chemical, physical and microbiological analyses, calibration, defectoscopy and the inspection of technical and sports equipment. Qualification is not proven; it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Conditions for operating

Full legal capacity (Section 6(1)(a) of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.).
Clean criminal record (Section 6(1)(b) and Section 6(2) of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.).
Professional qualification is NOT proven - this is an unqualified (free) trade under Annex 4 to the Trade Licensing Act (Section 25(2)).
No education or experience is required by law.
A responsible representative may optionally be appointed under Section 11, but this is not mandatory for a natural person. For a legal entity, a responsible representative is appointed.

Examples of activities

Chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of materials, food and water in a laboratory
Operating calibration service centres and metrological tasks
Measurement of noise and vibration
Radon measurement and personal dosimetry services
Defectoscopic tests and non-destructive testing of materials
Inspection of technical and sports equipment
Hydrometeorological and meteorological measurements
Microbiological analyses of drinking and waste water

What this trade is and what it is for

The trade Testing, measurement, analyses and inspections is field no. 65 within the single unqualified (free) trade (Annex 4 to Act No. 455/1991 Coll., the Trade Licensing Act). It entitles you to carry out testing, measurement and chemical, physical and microbiological analyses in a wide range of areas of human activity, as well as calibration, defectoscopic tests and the inspection of technical and sports equipment.

Because this is an unqualified (free) trade, you need not prove any education or experience. It is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act. The content scope of the field is set out in detail in Annex 4 to Government Regulation No. 278/2008 Coll., on the content scope of individual trades.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

Field 65 covers in particular:

chemical, physical and microbiological analyses of materials, raw materials, products, food, feed and water,
operating calibration service centres and metrological tasks, including cases where an authorised person issues a document on their result that has the character of a public instrument,
hydrometeorological and meteorological measurements,
radon measurement, personal dosimetry services and assessment of the properties of sources of ionising radiation,
measurement of noise and vibration,
defectoscopic tests and non-destructive testing of materials,
inspection of technical and sports equipment.

What does not fall here (this requires another trade, usually a regulated or licensed/concession trade, or authorisation or accreditation from another authority): testing of reserved pressure, lifting, gas and electrical equipment, testing of technical equipment in rail transport, inspections and checks of flue gas paths, measurement of motor-vehicle emissions, testing of aircraft and aviation products, performance of surveying activities, diagnostic and testing activity in plant protection, and control testing of mechanisation means for plant protection. If your activity requires accreditation (CIA) or authorisation, this is dealt with outside the Trade Licensing Act.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

To notify an unqualified (free) trade you must meet only the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

full legal capacity (Section 6(1)(a)) - usually acquired on reaching the age of majority, exceptionally earlier (by emancipation through a court decision or by entering into marriage),
clean criminal record (Section 6(1)(b), defined in Section 6(2)), which the office verifies itself by an extract from the Criminal Records Register.

Professional qualification is not proven for this trade. The unqualified (free) trade is expressly defined in Section 25(2) as a trade entitling the holder to carry out activities for whose pursuit the law does not require proof of professional or other competence. You therefore need no diploma, certificate or proof of experience.

A responsible representative (Section 11) is entirely voluntary for a natural person; you may make use of appointing one, but for an unqualified trade it is not mandatory. A legal entity appoints a responsible representative. One person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (JRF). In it you select the unqualified (free) trade and choose field no. 65, Testing, measurement, analyses and inspections. You may register further fields of the unqualified trade at once for a single fee.
Submit the notification. You may do so in person at any municipal Trade Licensing Office (central registration point), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Prove your identity and, for business in business premises or at someone else's address, also provide proof of the right to use the premises; foreigners prove their clean criminal record according to their country.
Pay the administrative fee of CZK 1,000 (or CZK 800 for an electronic submission via RZP).
Wait for the entry. The office enters you in the Trade Register within 5 working days of the notification being delivered and issues an extract (Section 47).

The right to pursue the trade arises on the very day of notification (Section 10(1)), provided you meet the conditions; you need not wait for the extract to be issued. A detailed procedure is set out in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
Completed JRF with field no. 65 selected.
Document concerning the business premises / registered office, if it is not your address (owner's consent).
Administrative fee of CZK 1,000 for the trade notification, or CZK 800 for an electronic submission.
Adding another field within an already notified unqualified trade is free of charge (CZK 0).
Clean criminal record - you need not prove it; the office obtains the extract from the Criminal Records Register itself.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a university education or a certificate for testing and measurement?

No. This is an unqualified (free) trade, so competence is not proven. The general conditions under Section 6 are enough. Accreditation or certification by the CIA may be necessary for issuing accredited protocols, but that is no longer a condition of the Trade Licensing Act.

Can I also register further activities together with field 65?

Yes. The unqualified trade has 80 fields and you may notify several of them in one form for a single administrative fee. Adding another field later is free of charge.

When can I start doing business?

The licence arises on the day of notification (Section 10(1)). The entry in the Trade Register and the issuing of the extract take place within 5 working days.

Does this trade cover vehicle emissions measurement or inspection of pressure equipment?

No. These activities are expressly excluded from field 65 and require another licence (usually authorisation or a concession). If you are unsure how to classify a specific activity, contact the Trade Licensing Office.

Must I have a responsible representative?

As a natural person you need not - for an unqualified trade a responsible representative under Section 11 is voluntary. A legal entity appoints a responsible representative.