CIRCULAR 30 May 2000 Information from the Secretariat

1. RETIREMENT OF JOHN BIRCH FROM THE NSC
   
   This is to inform all APLMF members that John Birch retired as Executive Director of NSC on 28 April but he will be continuing his regional and international involvement including President of APLMF and CIML member.
   
2. 7th APLMF AND WORKING GROUP MEETINGS
   
   2 - 4 OCTOBER 2000, GRAND HOTEL TAIPEI, CHINESE TAIPEI
   Preparations for the 7th APLMF and Working Groups meetings are progressing well. To date, the Secretariat has received registrations for attendance from a number of delegates from seven economies, namely Australia - 4; Canada - 2; Malaysia - 1; New Zealand - 1; Singapore - 1; Chinese Taipei and USA - 2.
   
   International and regional organisations have also been invited and Mr JF Magana, the 'nominated BIML Director' will attend representing WELMEC and Mr Gerard Faber, President of CIML, representing OIML.
   
   I would appreciate it if those members who have not returned their preliminary registration forms to return them by 30 June 2000.
   
3. ASEAN SEMINAR ON LEGAL METROLOGY
   
   5 - 6 OCTOBER 2000, GRAND HOTEL TAIPEI, CHINESE TAIPEIAs mentioned in Circular 29, an ASEAN seminar on legal metrology is proposed to be held in association with the APLMF meeting in Chinese Taipei from 5 - 6 October at the same venue. The PTB has requested the APLMF to announce this seminar together with the APLMF meetings and PTB will be providing funding to assist the attendance of ASEAN delegates to the seminar. The APLMF secretariat will work closely with Dr E. Seiler from the PTB on the organisation of the seminar.
   
   
4. ACCOMMODATION DETAILS AT THE GRAND HOTEL
   
   In Circular 29, delegates were provided with information on hotel rates at the Grand Hotel. In this Circular, a hotel booking form is attached. Please fax your booking to the hotel directly. These are special rates negotiated by the host economy organisation BMSI, Chinese Taipei.
   
   
5. APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
   
   The APLMF has received applications for membership from the Kingdom of Cambodia and North Korea. If you recall, North Korea has already been accepted as a member of the Forum at the Tsukuba meeting in 1997 but has now reconfirmed its commitment to participate in APLMF activities.
   
   
6. APLMF MEMBERSHIP FEES
   
   The payment of fees has been very encouraging and to date we have received payments from fourteen economies namely Australia, Canada, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, USA and Vietnam. The amount from these members is US$12,353.04 (Note: Cheques from Hong Kong China and Thailand to be re-issued; USA has been invoiced).
   
   For the information of members who have not made payments, please address cheques/telegraphic transfers to the National Standards Commission, not the APLMF.
   • The Beneficiary Bank:
   • Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 199 Cox's Road, North Ryde, NSW 2113 Australia
   • The Beneficiary OR Account Name:
   • National Standards Commission
   • Account Number: BSB (062281) 0085 0077
   • Payment description:
   • APLMF membership fees for ............... (name of economy)
   • The membership fee can be paid directly into the account above in equivalent Australian dollars. Please advise us when the transaction is made.
   • Categories of Fees
   Category 1 - one unit each = US$588.24 each
   Chile, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
   (Note: Includes Colombia in Category 1)
   Category 2 - 2 units each = $US1176.48 each
   Australia, Canada, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Russia, Chinese Taipei
   Category 3 - 4 units each = $US2352.96 each - Japan, USA
   
   
   
   • 6.1 Category of Fees for "least developing economies"
     
     
   It is recognised that amongst the membership of the APLMF, there are a number of economies which are classified as "least developed economies". Australia would like to propose that a fourth category of fees be established at half the rate of Category 1 of $US588.24 ie $US294.12. This proposal will be discussed at the 7th Forum meeting.
   
7. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND SECRETARIAT
   
   As this is an important issue, this information will be reproduced again in this Circular. The concerns the transfer of the Secretariat and Presidential responsibilities. The Seventh Forum meeting will be electing a new President whose economy will also provide the Secretariat for the Forum, the cost of which will be partly funded by the Forum membership fees.
   
   As Australia has provided the President and Secretariat for the Forum since its establishment in November 1994 it is important for the viability of the Forum that another economy accepts this responsibility from 1 January 2001. The President would welcome receiving expressions of interest before the Forum meeting in October.
   
8. LOCATION OF THE 8TH FORUM IN 2001
   
   In the last Circular, the President invited members to consider hosting the 8th Forum meeting. Previous meetings have been held in Australia, PR China, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea and Indonesia. It would be desirable to identify the possible location of the Forum meeting in 2001 before the Taipei meeting.
   
   The most cost effective location for our active members would probably be S E Asia but a meeting on the west coast of America could assist in involving our Latin American members.
   
   The President would welcome receiving expressions of interest before the Forum meeting in October.
   
9. QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY ON TAXIMETERS
   
   The following economies have provided replies to the above questionnaire. These are: Australia, Canada, PR China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, USA and Vietnam. A report is being prepared.
   
   The USA survey included a comprehensive survey by states of Alaska, California, NYC Limousine Commission, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Nevada, Maryland, Michigan, North Dakota, Tennessee, Florida, Wyoming and Wisconsin. The secretariat would appreciate if those members who have not done so to complete and return it to the secretariat as soon as possible.
   
10. SURVEY ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION
    
    The harmonisation of legislative and technical metrological requirements leading to the removal of technical barriers to trade is a major focus of the Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum. It is recognised that mutual recognition arrangements on measurement and testing in legal metrology is an important issue and the APLMF aims to conduct a survey to identify the requirements for mutual recognition arrangements between legal metrology authorities in the region. This will cover the areas of mutual recognition on acceptance of pattern approval test reports and certificates and other legal measurements.
    
    A questionnaire is enclosed with this Circular. Would you please complete and return it to the secretariat by 31 July 2000.