APLMF President's Newsletter - December 2018

Dear Colleagues,

As 2018 draws to a close it is time to reflect on another busy and productive year and to acknowledge a little of what we have achieved over the last 11 months which includes:

• Supporting the delivery of a number of very successful training courses and the development of the MEDEA 2 programme which will run over the next 3 years;
• Developing of a number of regional test procedures; Updating and re-energising our Working Groups as well as appointing new Chairs and group members;
• Updating the APLMF fee structure and fees;
• Appointing Dr Rifan Ardianto (Indonesia) to the Executive Committee; and Preparing to welcome Kiribati as a Full Member Economy represented by the Ministry of Commerce Industry Cooperative.

Another big highlight of the year from my perspective was Trading Standard’s hosting of the 25th Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF) and Working Group meetings in Christchurch. The forum was attended by 52 delegates representing 17 economies from around the region. Wearing two hats as the President and Host for this milestone meeting was a privilege as we recognised our achievements over this period. If you were not able to attend the meeting I encourage you to view the 25 year history video presentation on our website.

25th APLMF Meetings​ Attendees

Thank you to all those economies that were represented at this year’s meetings along with our guests from PTB, BIML, APMP and APLAC, and speakers from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

We recognise New Zealand, while a very attractive destination, is a long haul for most of our members so we were delighted with such a good turnout. Hosting was an opportunity to share a little of our unique New Zealand culture and environment and I hope you found your time in New Zealand enjoyable.

Feedback at the meeting indicated a high level of engagement in the current and future activities of APLMF which is very gratifying and bodes well for the organisation as it heads into its next 25 years. It was great to have the event opened with a video welcome by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi and to hear an address by Jim Robinson, Manager Trade and International, MBIE. Another highlight was having John Birch address the meeting as our founding President and constant guiding presence over the last 25 years and into the future.

Some of the key outcomes of the 25th APLMF meetings included the identification of actions to support regional utilisation of the new OIML Certificate System through formation of an APLMF Working Group aimed at supporting member economies to better understand and get the most benefits out of this system. Agreement was also reached to initiate development work on how a pilot Conformity to Type programme (based on OIML D xx Conformity to Type (CTT)) – Pre-market conformity assessment of measuring instruments could work within the region. A work programme of training and development activities including creation of a library of online training modules was also confirmed. I look forward to progressing these and the many other exciting initiatives identified in the APLMF work programme in the coming year.

All of the reports and presentations of the 25th APLMF meetings are available on the website and documents discussed at the member only session including the resolutions passed at the meeting are available on the member only page.

We are working on a highlights video which we will endeavour to have available at the end of January, followed by the draft Report/Minutes at the end of March 2019.

25th APLMF events included a visit to the Antarctic Centre and Canterbury University School of Engineering

Summary of Upcoming Deadlines

Survey Test Procedures for Goods Packed by Measure  – the deadline has been extended to 31st January 2019. Executive Committee Vacancy – a call for nominations will be sent to members in the coming week and nominations will close on 31st January 2019.

Quality Measurement of Agricultural Products (QMAP) WG 23-24 October – Nonthaburi, Thailand

A special two day planning meeting was held as the second part of a programme to transfer knowledge, from the outgoing Chair Dr Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, National Metrology Institute of Japan, to the members of the new QMAP WG. The main purpose was to ensure the QMAP members were confident they could deliver the Rice Moisture Training course planned for Thailand on the 3-7 December 2018.

The following members of the QMAP WG attended this training: Chair Mr Surachai Sungzikaw (CBWM, DIT, Thailand) and Deputy Chair Ms Haslina Bbte Abdul Kadir (NMIM (National Metrology Institute of Malaysia), Mr Thares Yodalai and Mrs Benjamas Winya (both of CBWM, DIT Thailand). Mr Norihiro Yoshida of Kett Electric Laboratory Co. Ltd, Japan was also involved.

Thank you to PTB, MEDEA 2 project for support and funding, along with the host Central Bureau of Weights and Measures (CBWM) DIT, Thailand. The development of trainers from developing economies is a milestone in the work of APLMF and PTB through the MEDEA programme with significant input from the outgoing Chair Dr Matsumoto and APLMF Training Coordinator, Mrs Marian Haire.

Introduction of OIML Training Center (OTC)

Forward

The first draft of “Framework of OTC” was developed by China. The document has been discussed during Countries and Economies with Emerging Metrology Systems (CEEMS) annual AG meeting in the margins of the 53rd CIML meeting at 8th October 2018 in Hamburg, Germany. Although the general text was agreed, however, members of AG would like to have more definition and more describe of the distinguished category of OTC. So, AG has established an ad-hoc working group with co-convenorship by Dr. Peter Ulbig, PTB Germany and SAMR, China. This document shall be finalized and get prepared for approval in next AG meeting, and it will be in October 2019.

In this article, it only shows a general idea of the document, the formal one will be available once it was approved.

1. Introduction

The first OIML training center, the OIML Pilot Training Center (OPTC), was established on July 18, 2016 at the Changping Campus of the National Institute of Metrology (NIM), China in Beijing, China.

So far, it has carried out many training and seminars with the urgently needed topics of CEEMS. It has actively promoted OIML related concepts and documents, it has provided a platform for exchanges of different ideas and became the “home” for the legal metrology personnel to learn and improve. As a “Pilot” for the OIML Training Center, it has accumulated valuable experience for further development and promotion of its work.

In light of previous experience from OPTC events and consider the continually increased needs from different region of the world, to promoting such activities, OIML CEEMS AG would like to develop a framework of OIML Training Center (OTC) in order to establish more OTC in each region.

2. Objective

The objectives of the OTC are:

• Enhance the understanding and adoption of OIML international recommendations, international documents, basic publications and other publications for CEEMS, improve its legal metrology system, and effectively improve the metrology management and technical practice ability of participants,
• Provide a good and high-level international exchange platform for legal metrology, promote the advanced experience between regions meanwhile enhance the international cooperation, thus to help AG to keep abreast of the needs of legal metrology in CEEMS, finally provide support for OIML to develop CEEMS related policy documents,
• Improve the level of Quality Infrastructure in CEEMS,
• Enhance international and inter-regional communication on metrology matters to actively remove technical trade barriers,
• Improve the awareness of legal metrology, and
• Promote the implementation of the OIML-CS.

3. Scope

The working scope of OTC includes:

• To conduct training, to promote the understanding and recognition of OIML recommendations, documents and other publications that can be used to address the urgent needs of CEEMS,
• To conduct seminars, to enhance the consistency of laws, regulations and documents on the construction of legal metrology systems among CEEMS members, thus to effectively remove technical barriers and promote interconnection,
• To promote the OIML-CS system and the concept of “one test, one certification, global recognition” in various activities,
• To submit summary report of trainings and other activities, such report and data will be the basis for research and analysis CEEMS issues;
• Update news, plans and training materials of OTC website, create a good and high-level international exchange platform for legal metrology in order to promote the advanced experience among CEEMS, and help OIML to catch needs and activity from CEEMS.
• To create standard training scheme to help participants understand the relevant international legal metrology publications and extension their international vision, as well as improve the knowledge structure system and enhance their practical operation capabilities.

4. Establishment of OTC

Conditions for establish an OTC:

• It should be hosted by an OIML member state or corresponding member,
• It should have access to recognized capabilities of legal metrology practices in the region,
• It should be capable of providing training and seminars directed at solving urgent problems faced by CEEMS, and delivering other activities to improve the legal metrology system of CEEMS.
• It should demonstrate that it can obtain support from the host government or other institutions, including:
  • i. Staff for the events
  • ii. Operational funding
  • iii. Events venue
  • iv. Accommodation for events
  • v. Necessary facilities, etc.

Note: The applicant must provide relevant supporting materials.

5. Managing documents

The managing documents of the OTC are:

• Framework
  • i. Framework for the OTC. Operational and procedural
  • ii. OTC standards and management document,
  • iii. OTC annual work plan,
  • iv. OTC expert database management document,
  • v. OTC budget document,
  • vi. OTC application form (including criteria, contact, etc.). c) Forms and templates
  • vii. Events management document (including details of preparation),
  • viii. Events application form,
  • ix. Registration form,
  • x. Experts information sheet,
  • xi. Events summary report.

6. Structure

OIML OTC structure includes:

Member states and corresponding members, AG, OIML experts, RLMOs, OPTC and OTCs.

The Figure 1 above shows the structure and relationship of each party of OTC in the OIML.

• AG was founded by CIML,
  
• AG membership (described in B19 item 2),
  
• The AG will authorize establish of new OTC, which was proposed from member states or corresponding members,
  
• OPTC and each OTC will report to AG.

Hosting future APLMF Meetings

We are very pleased to confirm Vietnam will host the 26th APLMF and Working Group Meetings in 2019 and we expect to be able to confirm dates (planned for early November) and the venue in the New Year.

Hosting a meeting provides a wonderful opportunity for your organisation to either showcase significant activities in Legal Metrology or to expose a greater number of staff to what other economies are working on or have achieved. It is very important for APLMF to be able to have confirmed hosts for at least a year or two in advance to allow economies plenty of time to plan and budget to attend. We would ask you to consider hosting a future meeting, particularly if you haven’t hosted a meeting, or have haven’t hosted more than 2 meetings.

Below is the list of meetings hosted over the last 25 years.

• Australia – 1994, 2008
  
• Brunei Darussalam - nil
  
• Cambodia - 2017
  
• Canada – 1996, 2010
  
• People's Republic of China – 1995, 2007
  
• Hong Kong, China - nil
  
• Indonesia – 1999, 2013
  
• Japan – 1997, 2003, 2016
  
• Republic of Korea – 1998, 2011
  
• Malaysia - 2005
  
• Mongolia - nil
  
• New Zealand – 2001, 2014, 2018
  
• Papua New Guinea - nil
  
• Philippines - 2012
  
• Singapore - 2006
  
• Chinese Taipei - 2000
  
• Thailand - 2009
  
• United States of America – 2004, 2015
  
• Vietnam – 2002

In closing for 2018

On behalf of the APLMF Secretariat team I wish you, your colleagues and families all the very best for the holiday season and good health and fortune in 2019. In New Zealand, we typically take our summer holidays during January/February to take advantage of our long sunny days, beautiful beaches and lakes. Many of us enjoy camping and getting out into the great outdoors.