CIRCULAR 23 January 1999
Information from the Secretariat

1. LOCATION FOR the 6 th APLMF MEETING
   
   We would like to inform members that we have received an invitation from Mr Rasben Simanullang, Director of Direktorat Metrologi, Indonesia, to hold the 6 th APLMF meeting in Denpasar, Bali in September 1999 and the Secretariat will be liaising with the Directorat on arrangements for the Forum.
   
2. POSITIONS OF PRESIDENT (CONVENOR) AND SECRETARIAT
   
   
   • 2.1 We would like to invite member economies to consider accepting responsibility for the positions of President and Secretariat as the term of office for the current Convenor and Secretariat will end in 1999. Please send proposals/nominations for the above positions to the Convenor or members of the Executive Committee, as soon as possible, but preferably by 31 March 1999. The members of the Executive Committee are:
     
     
     • Mr John Birch, Convenor APLMF, Tel: 61-2-9888 3922; Fax: 61-2-9888 3033; e-mail: jbirch@nsc.gov.au
     • Mr Alan E Johnston, President, Measurement Canada; Tel: 1-613-952 0652; Fax: 1-613-957 1265; e-mail: johnston.alan@ic.gc.ca
     • Dr Hidetaka IMAI, Director General, National Research Laboratory of Metrology (NRLM), Japan; Tel: 81-298-54 4178; Fax: 81-298-54 4138; e-mail: imai@nrlm.go.jp
     • Dr Mohd Ariffin Aton, President, SIRIM Berhad, Malaysia; Tel: 6-03-559 2635; Fax: 6-03-559 0677; e-mail: mohd.ariffin.aton@sirim.my
   • 2.2 The positions are for an initial period of two years with a further term of two years if necessary. As stated in the sixth draft MoU, the definition of President is:
     g) President
     Elected head of APLMF, holding office for a term of two years, with a further term of two years may be allowed by the Forum, and supported by a Secretariat.
     
3. REPORT OF THE FIFTH APLMF MEETING AND WORKING GROUPS MEETINGS - SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
   
   The finalised Report of the Forum and Working Groups meetings held in Seoul, Korea, in October was circulated to all members on 19th January. Two proposals for amendments were received - from Indonesia and Republic of Korea. Both proposals have been accepted and amendments made to the draft report accordingly.
   
   We wish to draw the attention of members to Clause 16 - Work Plan 1998/99 as agreed to at the Forum meeting and would welcome members' advice on the following components of the program.
   
   1. Membership of Working Groups on:
      
      • - Medical Measurements;
      • - Taximeters;
      • - Metrological control of measurements in international trade of bulk commododities;
      • - Environmental measurements, particularly air pollution.
   2. Structure and content of the program on analysing the economic impact of legal metrology within member economies and the region.
   3. Advice from members economies who wish to participate in the supplementary round of intercomparisons and the mass intercomparison.
   4. Advice by members on views of industry in their economy on the Mutual Recognition Agreement.
   3.1 To facilitate replies by members to the above questions, a questionnaire has been enclosed. We would appreciate if members will return their replies to the Secretariat by 27 February 1999.
   
   
4. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU)
   The sixth draft MoU-October 98 is attached with the Report of the Forum. Once again, we would like to draw the attention of members to Clause 17 of the Report on the final consideration of the MoU and the recommendations of the Forum namely:
   
   The Forum endorsed in principle the Sixth Draft of the Memorandum of Understanding and set the following timetable for finalisation and signing.
   
   • Any non-substantive (including editorial) amendments to be notified by 31 December and considered by the Executive Committee.
   • Any substantive amendments i.e. on issues that could impede signing should be notified to the secretariat by 31 March and considered by the Executive Committee who will decide if a postal vote is necessary.
   • The Memorandum of Understanding will be finalised and circulated to all Member organisations by 1 July. The signed document is to be returned to the secretariat. The starting date for the Memorandum of Understanding will be when ten (10) economies have signed it.
   • If the Memorandum of Understanding is in force at the next Forum meeting, members who have not signed may attend as observers.
   • 4.1 All members are requested to discuss the MoU with the respective authorities in their economies and to send any comments to the Secretariat by the above mentioned dates.
   
   
5. SURVEY TO ESTABLISH AN APLMF TRAINING NETWORK
   
   A questionnaire survey on the establishment of an APLMF Training Network is attached with this Circular. As you would recall, the APLMF has identified training of legal metrology staff as a high priority. As a result of this concern a small number high priority areas have been identified and training initiatives established as part of the APLMF Work Program in these areas.
   
   However another important aspect of any regional training program is to survey the region to establish what training is already occurring throughout the region either within the different legal metrology authorities or within each economy. From this information, a Regional Directory of Metrology Training can be developed and a network of training providers developed. Training expertise from across the region can then be drawn upon that will assist in the establishment of regionally consistent training in areas where mutual recognition is being established.
   
   Please send in your replies to the Secretariat by 27 February 1999.
   
   

QUESTIONNAIRE ON APLMF WORK PLAN 1998/99
Please complete and return by 27 February 1999 to:

1. 1. Membership of Working Groups on:
   
   • Medical Measurements YES / NO
     
     The representative for Working Group on Medical Measurements:
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ............................................................
     
   • Taximeters YES / NO
     The representative for Working Group on Taximeters:
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ..................................................................
     
   • Metrological control of measurements in international trade of bulk commodities
     
     YES / NO
     
     The representative for Working Group on Metrological Control of measurements:
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ..................................................................
     
   • Environmental measurements, particularly air pollution.
     YES / NO
     
     The representative for Working Group on Environmental Measurements:
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ..................................................................
     
2. Structure and content of the program on analysing the economic impact of legal metrology within member economies and the region. (Structure, content, name of expert, funding, timing study etc.)
   
   
   ....................................................................................................................................................
   .....................................................................................................................................................
   ....................................................................................................................................................
   ....................................................................................................................................................
   
   
3. Advice from members economies who wish to participate in the supplementary round of intercomparisons and the mass intercomparison.
   
   We would like to participate in the intercomparison on:
   
   • (i) Non-automatic weighing instruments: YES / NO
     The representative for Intercomparison on Non-automatic weighing instruments:
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ..................................................................
     
   • (ii) Load cells: YES / NO
     
     The representative for Intercomparison on Load cells:
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ..................................................................
     
   • (iii) Mass: YES / NO
     The representative for Intercomparison on Mass:
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ..................................................................
     
   • (iv) Intercomparison on Master Meters: YES / NO
     
     The representative for Intercomparison on Master Meters::
     Name/Designation: ......................................................................
     Address/Telephone/Fax: ..................................................................
     
4. Advice by members on views of industry in their economy on the Mutual Recognition Agreement.
   
   We have obtained the following feedback from industry:
   ....................................................................................................................................................
   ....................................................................................................................................................
   ....................................................................................................................................................
   ....................................................................................................................................................
   
   From:
   Name of Economy: ........................................................
   Name and Address:........................................................
   Date: ...............................................................................
   

SURVEY TO ESTABLISH AN APLMF TRAINING NETWORK

1. Is there any formal training courses available in metrology through:
   
   
   • Your authority
   • Training Institutions within your country
2. If training is available within your authority:
   
   
   • (a) is there a separate:
   • Department of Training
   • Training Center
   • (b) Are the courses available in:
   • Legal metrology
   • Other areas of Metrology
   • (c) Please give the name, position and contact details for the person responsible for training within your authority:
   
   Name:
   Position:
   Address:
   Telephone:
   Facsimile:
   e-mail:
   
   
   • (d) Please attach an outline of the courses given by your authority.
3. Are the metrology training courses available in Training Institutions within your country
   
   
   • (a) available in:
   • Legal metrology
   • Other areas of Metrology
   • (b) Please list of the names of the institutions with the name, position and contact details for the person in charge of metrology training courses: Institution:
     Name:
     Position:
     Address:
     Telephone:
     Facsimile:
     e-mail:.
     
     Institution:
     Name:
     Position:
     Address:
     Telephone:
     Facsimile:
     e-mail:
     Note: Please attach further names as necessary on a separate sheet of paper.
     
     From:
     Name of Economy: ........................................................
     Name and Address:.........................................................
     Date: ...............................................................................