CIRCULAR 19 July 1998

1. FIFTH APLMF MEETING - SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
   
   
   • 1.1 Venue and dates of Forum - Radisson Seoul Plaza Hotel, 25 - 27 October 1998
     The fifth APLMF and meetings of the Working Groups on Mutual recognition arrangements, Goods packed by measure, Intercomparison testing, Rice moisture measurement, Utility meters and Training will be held on 25 - 27 October 1998 at the Radisson Seoul Plaza Hotel, Republic of Korea, hosted by the Korean National Institute of Technology and Technology (KNITQ).
     
   • 1.2 Information brochures
     
     Please find enclosed with this Circular the following brochures/documents:
     • i. Information brochure from the Korean National Institute of Technology and Quality, KNITQ, on meeting arrangements, hotel accommodation etc;
     • ii. Notice from the secretariat regarding the participation of APLMF delegates to visit KRISS;
     • iii Brochures by the Korea National Tourist Organisation:
     Korea - Official Travel Guide
     Korea - Tourist Map of Seoul;
     Welcome to Korea;
     Traveler's Korea;
     Korea Shopping Guide.
     
   • 1.3 Participation at Fifth Forum
     We have received information that more than thirty delegates from fifteen member economies will be attending the Forum meetings, namely:
     
     Australia (3), Canada (2), Republic of China, Indonesia (2), Republic of Korea (6), Lao PDR (1), Malaysia (2), Mongolia (1), New Zealand (1), Papua New Guinea (1), Philippines (1), Chinese Taipei (4), Thailand (1), USA and Vietnam (4).
     
     Hong Kong China has indicated its interest to attend but has yet to finalise its answer and KNITQ, Korea will be inviting participation from industry and relevant organisations to the Forum meetings.
     
     We would appreciate receiving information from those member economies who have not informed the secretariat to do so as soon as possible.
     
   • 1.4 Funding for attendance of delegates from developing economies
     The secretariat has requested funding from funding agencies to provide financial assistance to developing member economies to attend the Forum in Seoul. We are waiting for the outcome of the funding and will inform members as soon as we are advised if we have been successful.
     
     This fifth APLMF meeting is of particular importance as the MoU will be finalised and there will be major discussions on Mutual recognition and Training. All members should make every effort to ensure they can attend.
   • 1.5 Draft agenda
     Draft agendas for the Forum and Working Parties meetings are attached with this Circular. If members would like to have any particular matters for discussion to be included in the agenda, please inform the Secretariat.
     
2. RICE MOISTURE MEASUREMENT
   
   The Secretariat is continuing the investigation into the problem of rice moisture measurement. As stated in the previous Circulars, the issues of rice moisture measurement centers on the technological capability of existing field instruments and the systems needed for pattern approval, verification and reverification to ensure consistent field measurements.
   
   We have had discussions with experts in Australia and the United States to identify a suitable technical expert to undertake the proposed study. Funding is now being sought to enable the expert to undertake a study of the particpating member economies to identify the problem and to make recommendations to the APLMF.
   
3. APLMF WORKSHOPS IN SHANGHAI, 31 AUGUST - 10 SEPTEMBER 1998
   
   Implementation of OIML R76 and Introduction to High Capacity Weighing
   The above workshops will be held at:
   Shanghai Technical Supervision Center
   501 Ya An Road
   Jin Qiao Export Processing District
   Pudong, Shanghai, PR China.
   The Shanghai Technical Supervision Center has only just been completed and includes a training centre with hotel style accommodation for participants. Information on arrangements for the workshops have been sent directly to participants attending the workshops.
   
   We have received a total of 25 applications from 13 member economies (PR China, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, USA and Vietnam). We have requested funding from funding agencies to provide financial assistance to assist participants from developing member economies to attend the workshops. We are waiting for the outcome of the funding and will inform members as soon as we are advised if we have been successful.
   
4. APEC SCSC: STANDARDS & CONFORMANCE CONFERENCE
   
   The date for the second Standards & Conformance Conference is the 4-5 September 1998 in Kuantan, Malaysia, following the 14th APMP meeting on 1-2 September in SIRIM, Malaysia. The APLMF Convenor will be making a presentation on "Modernising Legal Metrology in the Asia-Pacific" at the conference.
   
   The program and registration details for the conference, with the theme "Standards & Conformance - Towards Trade Liberalisation in the 21st Century," are enclosed with this Circular.
   
5. SEMINAR "THE ROLE OF METROLOGY IN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT" at the PTB, Federal Republic of Germany
   
   The Convenor presented a paper on "The Role of Legal Metrology in Economic and Social Development" (copy attached) at a seminar held the PTB, (Physikalisch-Technisch-Bundesanstalt), Braunschweig, Federal Republic of Germany on 15-19 June 1998. Three other organisations, namely the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) of the Metre Convention, The International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML), and the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO) especially its Technical Committee 11, Metrological Infrastructures, were also involved in the organisation of the seminar.
   
   A total of 250 delegates from 79 countries attended the conference as well as representatives from a number of international organisations namely WTO, UNCTAD, ILAC, ISO, UNIDO.
   
6. DIRECTORY OF LEGAL METROLOGY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC - Second Edition
   
   The above Directory is now being printed and copies will be sent to APLMF members in the next few weeks.
   
7. MUTUAL RECOGNITION
   
   In April, the APLMF Convenor attended a meeting at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA in Washington, to discuss mutual recognition of pattern approval test reports. The meeting was convened by Dr Sam Chappell of NIST at the request of the National Conference of Weights and Measures (NCWM) of the USA, and was attended by the Director of BIML and representatives of legal metrology authorities in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
   
   Arising out of the meeting, a draft OIML document on "Mutual Agreement on OIML Pattern Evaluations" was developed and a copy is enclosed with this Circular.
   
   The Agreement provides the framework and criteria for the international acceptance of pattern approval test reports. The basis of such acceptance will be mutual confidence between authorities. The Agreement defines the following factors as contributing to mutual confidence:
   
   • - accreditation of test laboratories;
   • - peer review;
   • - exchange of information regarding mutual capability for testing;
   • - training of test laboratory personnel;
   • - exchange of test data; and
   • - intercomparisons.
   Members of the APLMF are well placed to participate in this Agreement as a result of the Forum programs on:
   
   • - intercomparison
   • - training in pattern approval testing
   • - exchange of information through the Directory and Forum surveys.
   The OIML Mutual Agreement will be discussed at the CIML meeting in Seoul on 28-30 October and will also be an important input to the APLMF discussion on mutual recognition at the Working Party meeting on 25-26 October.
   
8. WELMEC MEETING
   
   The Western European Legal Metrology Co-operation (WELMEC) is the European regional equivalent to APLMF. Both regional organisations have made the other corresponding members and WELMEC has attended APLMF meetings in Beijing (1995) and Vancouver (1996).
   
   In June this year, the APLMF Convenor was able to attend the 13th WELMEC Committee meeting in Prague. The meeting was held over two days and was attended by twenty eight representatives of legal metrology authorities from twenty one European countries as well as an observer from the European Commission. There was discussion on:
   
   • - Weighing - particularly of grain for export;
   • - Pre-packaged goods - definition of nett contents;
   • - Software;
   • - Measuring Instrument Directive; and
   • - Telephone metering.
   
   This latter topic was briefly discussed at the APLMF meeting last year and to assist further discussion, the WELMEC paper prepared by ML Junttila from Finland "Telephone Charging, Data Collection and Billing - Short report" is attached for your information.
   
   Please also refer to a related paper on "Pattern approval and verification of electronic customer meters for telephone call charging" by Ian Hoerlein of the National Standards Commission which was circulated with Circular 15 in November 1997.
   
   
9. NEWS FROM MEMBERS
   
   Once again, the secretariat would like to invite member economies to send any news items on development in legal metrology in their economy for publication in the Circulars.