diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 0b0c1caf..2ddb449b 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ matrix:
     - os: linux
       compiler: gcc
       env:
-        - MAKETARGET="test-all tidy-all check-format"
+        - MAKETARGET="test-all tidy-all check-format check-metadata"
       addons:
         apt:
           packages:
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7c3ca506..7f2e5c55 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -203,3 +203,7 @@ apply-tidy-all:
 	@for scheme in $(ALL_SCHEMES); do \
 		$(MAKE) apply-tidy SCHEME=$$scheme; \
 	done
+
+.PHONY: check-metadata
+check-metadata:
+	python test/check_metadata.py
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5310f0e4..d41d5b38 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ _The checking of items on this list is still being developed. Checked items shou
 * [ ] Makefile-based build for Windows (`nmake`)
 * [x] All exported symbols are namespaced with `PQCLEAN_SCHEMENAME_`
 * [ ] Each implementation comes with a `LICENSE` file (see below)
-* [ ] Each implementation comes with a `META` file giving details about version of the algorithm, designers, etc.
+* [x] Each scheme comes with a `META.yml` file giving details about version of the algorithm, designers
+    * [x] Each individual implementation is specified in `META.yml`.
 
 
 ## Requirements on C implementations that are manually checked
diff --git a/test/check_metadata.py b/test/check_metadata.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..be759e99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/check_metadata.py
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+"""
+Verify the metadata specified in the META.yml files.
+"""
+
+import yaml
+import glob
+import sys
+import itertools
+import copy
+
+import os.path
+
+def eprint(*args, **kwargs):
+    """Write to stderr"""
+    global errors
+
+    print(*args, file=sys.stderr, **kwargs)
+    errors += 1
+
+
+EXPECTED_FIELDS = {
+    'name': {'type': str},
+    'type': {'type': str},
+    'claimed-nist-level': {'type': int, 'min': 1, 'max': 5},
+    'length-public-key': {'type': int, 'min': 1},
+    'testvectors-sha256': {'type': str, 'length': 64},
+    'principal-submitter': {'type': str},
+    'auxiliary-submitters': {'type': list, 'elements': {'type': str}},
+    'implementations': {
+        'type': list,
+        'elements': {
+            'type': dict,
+            'spec': {
+                'name': {'type': str},
+                'version': {'type': str},
+            },
+        },
+    },
+}
+
+KEM_FIELDS = {
+    'length-ciphertext': {'type': int, 'min': 1},
+}
+
+SIGNATURE_FIELDS = {
+    'length-signature': {'type': int, 'min': 1},
+}
+
+errors = 0
+
+
+def check_spec(metadata, spec, metafile):
+    for field, props in spec:
+        if field not in metadata:
+            eprint("Field '{}' not present in '{}'.".format(
+                field, metafile))
+            continue
+
+        # validate element
+        check_element(field, metadata[field], props, metafile)
+
+        # delete it to detect extras
+        del metadata[field]
+
+    # Done checking all specified fields, check if we have extras
+    for field, value in metadata.items():
+        eprint("Unexpected item '{}' in '{}' with value '{}'"
+               .format(field, metafile, value))
+
+
+def check_element(field, element, props, metafile):
+    type_ = props['type']
+    # Validate type of element
+    try:
+        type_(element)
+
+        # Strs are valid lists otherwise
+        if type_ == list and type(element) != list:
+            raise ValueError("Not a list")
+        # lists are valid dicts otherwise
+        if type_ == dict and type(element) != dict:
+            raise ValueError("Not a dict")
+    except ValueError as e:
+        eprint("Field '{}' in '{}' seems to be of incorrect type. "
+               "Expected '{}'. Got error '{}'."
+               .format(field, metafile, type_.__name__, e))
+        return
+
+    if type_ == int:
+        element = int(element)
+        if 'min' in props:
+            if element < props['min']:
+                eprint("Value of field '{}' in '{}' is lower than minimum "
+                       "value {}".format(field, metafile, props['min']))
+        if 'max' in props:
+            if element > props['max']:
+                eprint("Value of field '{}' in '{}' is larger than maximum"
+                       " value {}".format(field, metafile, props['max']))
+    if type_ == str:
+        if 'length' in props:
+            actual_len = len(element)
+            if actual_len != props['length']:
+                eprint("Value of field '{}' in '{}' should be length {}"
+                       " but was length {}"
+                       .format(field, metafile,
+                               props['length'], actual_len))
+
+    if type_ == list:  # recursively check the elements
+        for el in element:
+            check_element('element of {}'.format(field),
+                          el, props['elements'], metafile)
+    if type_ == dict:
+        check_spec(element, props['spec'].items(), metafile)
+
+
+for directory in glob.iglob('crypto_*/*/'):
+    metafile = os.path.join(directory, 'META.yml')
+    try:
+        with open(metafile) as f:
+            metadata = yaml.load(f.read())
+    except Exception as e:
+        eprint("Can't open {}: {}".format(metafile, e))
+        continue
+
+    specification = EXPECTED_FIELDS.items()
+    if 'crypto_kem' in metafile:
+        specification = itertools.chain(specification, KEM_FIELDS.items())
+    elif 'crypto_sign' in metafile:
+        specification = itertools.chain(specification,
+                                        SIGNATURE_FIELDS.items())
+
+    check_spec(copy.deepcopy(metadata), specification, metafile)
+
+    unspecified_impls = glob.glob(directory + '*/')
+    if 'implementations' in metadata:
+        for implementation in metadata['implementations']:
+            if 'name' not in implementation:  # problem is reported elsewhere
+                continue
+            implpath = os.path.join(directory, implementation['name'])
+            if not os.path.isdir(implpath):
+                eprint("There is no implementation at '{}' but '{}' was "
+                       "specified in {}".format(
+                           implpath, implementation['name'], metafile))
+        implpath += '/'  # adjust for trailing / in unspecified_impls
+        if implpath in unspecified_impls:
+            unspecified_impls.remove(implpath)
+
+    for impl in unspecified_impls:
+        eprint("Implementation '{}' is not specified in '{}'."
+               .format(impl, metafile))
+
+
+
+
+
+exit(errors)