CIRCULAR 21 September 1998

Information from the Secretariat

1. FIFTH APLMF MEETING - SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
   
   
   • 1.1 We have received information that approximately fifty delegates will attend the Fifth Forum meeting viz:
     
     Australia (4), Canada (2), People's Republic of China (3), 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 (2), Russia (3), Japan (4), USA (2) and Vietnam (4).
     
     In addition the following organisations will attend viz. BIML (2), SALMEC (1) and WELMEC (1).
     
     Participation by all members at this Forum is particularly important to ensure that the discussion on Mutual Recognition in the Asia-Pacific and the MoU for the Forum is representative of all members.
     
     Participants are reminded that they should finalise their hotel bookings in Seoul by 30 September.
     
     
   • 1.2 PROGRAM AND DRAFT AGENDAS
     A program for the Fifth Forum (pink paper) and the draft agendas for the Forum (green paper) and Working Parties (blue paper) are attached with this Circular.
     
   • 1.3 COUNTRY REPORTS
     It would be valuable if each Forum member could prepare a brief report on current developments in legal metrology in their economy. These reports should reach the Secretariat by Friday, 2 October for inclusion in the Forum papers.
     
   • 1.4 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU)
     The fifth draft of the MoU was circulated last month with Circular 20. We would appreciate receiving any further comments by 30 September.
     
     
2. POSITION OF CONVENOR AND SECRETARIAT
   
   
   • 2.1 This matter was discussed in Circular 20 and it appears that there is support for Mr Birch continuing as Convenor and Australia providing the Secretariat until 1999.
     
     However, we need to identify possible candidates for the Convenor and Secretariat by the Forum meeting in Seoul. Could you please notify the Secretariat by 19 October if you would like to be considered for the position of Convenor.
     
   • 2.2 Funding
     
     Possible subsidisation of the cost of the secretariat by a Forum membership fee was also discussed in Circular 20 with annual fees for economies ranging from US$588 to US$2350
     
     This will be discussed further at the Forum meeting in October when preferably we should make an in principle decision on this issue. All member economies should ascertain before the Forum meeting if there is any impediment to paying these annual fees and whether the proposal levels are appropriate and acceptable.
     
     
3. FUNDING OF SPECIALIST REGIONAL BODIES (SRBS) BY APEC SCSC
   
   At the APEC Standards & Conformance Committee meeting (SCSC) in Kuantan, Malaysia on 7 September, the five Asia-Pacific Specialist Regional Bodies (APLMF, APMP, APLAC, PAC and PASC) attended and reported on their current programs. During discussion, it was recognised that the SRBs were making a significant contribution to the achievement of the APEC objectives (APLMF Report attached) and that if this progress was to continue then APEC should begin funding projects through the SRBs. This issue should be discussed by Forum members with the APEC representatives of their economies to ensure that their participation in Forum meetings and programs is adequately funded.
   
   
4. MUTUAL RECOGNITION
   
   A major discussion at Seoul will be in the Mutual Recognition Working Party which will discuss the draft OIML Mutual Agreement on OIML Pattern Evaluations and its applicability to APLMF. To assist discussion on this issue, I have enclosed the attached survey on Pattern Approval and Mutual Recognition which I would request you to complete and return by Friday, 2 October for analysis and inclusion in the Forum papers.
   
5. TRAINING
   
   The Forum training program has concentrated on weighing applications with the Train-the trainer course on pattern approval testing of non-automatic weighing instruments to R 76 and the current development of a train-the-trainer course on verification and reverification of non-automatic weighing instruments. We believe it would now be appropriate to develop a training course in flow measurement and would ask you to complete the attached brief training survey and return by Friday, 2 October for inclusion in the Forum papers.
   
6. HOST ECONOMY TOPIC
   
   At this Forum meeting, we have asked the host economy to provide a topic of interest or concern, for discussion at the Forum. The temperature correction of petroleum sales has recently become an issue in the Republic of Korea and this topic has been included in the Forum agenda. A number of economies have indicated they will make brief presentations on how this issue has been dealt with in their economies.
   
   
7. PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS
   
   As stated in "Section 7 General Information" on page 8 of the Information Booklet issued by the Korean National Institute of Technology and Quality, "participants are advised to check regulations in their own country regarding passports, visas and vaccinations." However, should you require an official letter to be issued a visa, please inform the Secretariat.
   
8. DOCUMENTS FOR THE FORUM
   
   A folder comprising documents for the meeting will be mailed to all delegates in the first week of October. Please bring the meeting papers to the Forum/Working Parties meetings.
   
9. ANY OTHER MATTERS
   
   If there are any other matters you wish to raise, please do not hesitate to contact the secretariat.