In the July edition of the Presidents Newsletter we cover the following topics:

Click here to read the newsletter in full. 
​

• Timeline for deadlines for consultation, completion of surveys or voting:
• MEDEA 2: Planning Workshop 4-5 July Hong Kong
• Appointment of APLMF representative on MEDEA Coordination Committee
• Small Training Course for APLMF Working Group on Quality Measurement of Agricultural Products (QMAP)
• Verification of Rice Moisture Training Course – 26-30 November, Pattaya, Thailand
• Report on Pre-packaged Goods Course – 10-13 April 2018, Nanning, PR China
• Report on Verification of NAWI (including Weighbridges) - 8-11 May 2018, Sepang, Malaysia
• World Metrology Day 2018
• Working Groups Transition progress
• Inaugural OIML Certification System (OIML-CS) Management Committee, Maintenance Group and Review Committee Meetings
• Introduction of OIML Pilot Training Center
• Voting Processes

Click here to read the newsletter in full. ​

By Mr GUO Su (OIML) 

The OIML Pilot Training Center (OPTC) founded by China, officially opened in June 2016, after OIML issued certificate and is a pillar organization under OIML Advisory Group.[1]

Part of OIML Resolution no. 2015/10 (Agenda item 6.3)
Instructs the Bureau to further develop the OIML website such that it may be used as a source of up-to-date information on capacity-building initiatives, including training materials and, if feasible, a database of experts available to contribute to such work,

Endorses the proposal of the advisory group, set up by Resolution no. 2013/9, to establish a “pilot training center” and encourages the authorities in P.R. China to give their full support to this initiative,

Urges other Member States to study the results of this first pilot and to consider, in the light of an evaluation of the pilot, whether they are able to initiate something similar,

Urges Member States to be ready to propose conveners for projects to produce other documents proposed during the two seminars organized in 2015,

Importance of establishing OPTC
Currently, there are 62 member states and 64 corresponding members in international legal measurement organizations. “Countries and Economies with Emerging Metrology System” (CEEMS) members account for about 75% of the 126 members.

The fact that the OIML chose to set up its first OPTC in China, the world’s largest developing country, is not only an acknowledgement of China’s considerable work in the field of metrology, but also the opportunity for China to engage in a historic mission.

The OIML is very grateful for the opportunity to draw on China’s management and technical experience, which can be actively applied to studying, developing and trialling innovative support policies, most particularly a new OIML training system and associated mechanisms. This will improve and enrich the development of training courses and their contents. The experience of China will also be of great assistance in establishing the OIML expert database, building a comprehensive management service system and enhancing the overall performance of the OIML’s activities in support of the CEEMS community. It will have an excellent chance here to build an internationally recognized role model.

OPTC will be a solid foundation for strengthening the capacity building of CEEMS in the future and increasing the participation of CEEMS in OIML work.

Role of OPTC
Mechanism: OPTC will open a platform for exchange of management and technical experience, and will coordinate with OIML to develop a series of innovative support policies, most particularly for a new OIML training system and associated mechanisms.

Service: OPTC will improve and enrich the development of training courses and their contents, and assistant OIML in establishing the OIML expert database, building a comprehensive management service system and enhancing the overall performance of the OIML’s activities in support of the Countries and Economies with Emerging Metrology System (CEEMS) community.

Pilot: With support of OIML, OPTC will look for ways in which a full range of consulting and training services can be sourced to promote the construction and development of metrology systems in all OIML Member States and Corresponding Members.

Activities of OIML Pilot Training Center
Training Course: Usually it will be short Period which less than 7 days, the topic will focus on common Interest (e.g. Weighing Instruments / Pre-packaged goods / Fuel Dispensers, etc.), such needs will be raised by member states and/or corresponding member of OIML.

Consulting on Capacity Building: OPTC will invite experts from OIML Experts Database to give consulting to member states and/or corresponding member of OIML on Metrology Management System, Management of Measuring Instruments, Market Surveillance, Law /Regulation, MAA, Lab Requirements, Personnel development.

Test Procedure / Video Clip: OPTC will collected training materials based on previous training course, and interpret of OIML Recommendation and documents. Coordinate with expert and/or RLMO to publish hard copy and/or Video Clip of Test Procedure.

Attachment Training: Usually it will be long term (3 month). OPTC will select limited person per year, with support of NIM China, provincial metrology institute and national enterprise, OPTC will support living expenses in China.

Advisory Group (AG)

Part of OIML Resolution no. 2013/9 [Agenda item 7]
Welcomes the proposal from its Member from China to reinstate a leadership mechanism to provide guidance to the OIML on its activities in this area;

Decides to set up an advisory group for the time being, to carry out wide consultation, to seek additional suggestions and to build up links with other bodies which have a contribution to make;
Invites Members who wish to participate in the proposed advisory group to contact the BIML in order to express their interest in being involved;

Requests that the Regional Legal Metrology Organizations (RLMOs) at their Round Table Meeting on 11 October 2013 consider how existing initiatives can be coordinated with the work of such an advisory group;

Requests its Member from China to report to the 49th CIML Meeting on the activities of the advisory group and, if appropriate, to propose a permanent mechanism for coordinating activities in this area, taking account of previous experiences of attempting such coordination.

Term of Reference of AG
Please visit this webpage.
 
AG structure

By Mr Bill Lozoides (Australia) and Dr Charles Ehrlich (USA)

Australia welcomed delegates to the inaugural committee meetings, with hot weather and a packed schedule.
 
Prior to the official meeting of the Management Committee (MC), the Maintenance Group (MG) (which is responsible for making recommendations on documents and procedures in the OIML-CS to the MC) and the Review Committee (RC) (which is responsible for assessing OIML Issuing Authority, Test Laboratory and Expert applications) met to consider proposals and make recommendations to the MC regarding the following issues:

• An amendment of the criteria for the approval of experts and specifying that the assessment team should have the relevant expertise
• extension of the transition periods
• criteria for the use of old test data for issuing OIML-CS certificates
• reviewing the requirements regarding the application of ISO/IEC 17065
• handling modular approvals

 
The MC itself was attended by 21 member countries, 17 were represented in person at the meeting and four countries had given proxies.
 
This meant that the meeting was quorate for the purposes of voting in accordance with the voting rules specified in OIML B 18:2017.
 
Key outcomes of the meeting included:
               

1. On the recommendation of the Review Committee, the initial approval of 9 OIML Issuing Authorities, 20 Test labs 60 Legal Metrology Experts and 6 Management System Experts that will underpin the integrity of the system. More applications in these categories have been received and are being duly processed.
   
   
2. The current PD-07 does not allow Basic test data to be used to issue a Scheme A certificate, but there is a “backdoor” where old test data could be used to issue a Scheme B certificate and then a Scheme B certificate could be used to issue a Scheme A certificate. The Chair of the MC stressed that we want manufacturers to invest in the new system, but that trust in the data that is used to issue certificates was also critical to the success of the OIML-CS. A suitable balance and solution was therefore required.  
   
   After a significant discussion, the MC agreed on the principle of using test data issued before 1/1/2018 as the basis for issuing Scheme A certificates under certain conditions. The MC members were asked to send Paul Dixon (OIML-CS Executive Secretary) suggestions for these conditions and the MG will amend PD-07 to specify the criteria and conditions for using ‘old’ test data for issuing Scheme A certificates.
   
   
3. It was agreed to extend the 2 year transition period to 3 years, for OIML Issuing Authorities to demonstrate compliance with ISO/IEC 17065 through accreditation or peer assessment, to allow a working party to explore the applicability of ISO/IEC 17065 and to explore other possible options for member economies.
   
   
4. Recommendations that fulfil the criteria specified in OIML B 18 in the OIML-CS but which were not originally included in the system was discussed. According to the rules they should be included and it was agreed that a recommendation to include them (from 1/1/2019) would be made to the CIML accordingly.
   
   
5. Proposed extension of the transition periods from Scheme B to Scheme A.  The reason for the proposed extension was the time needed to arrange accreditation or peer assessments (as experts had only just been approved at this meeting) and time to conduct the review and approval processes. Experience from the recent approval of the OIML Issuing Authorities and Test Laboratories suggested that the original transition periods were too short. After discussion the MC agreed to the proposed changes and a recommendation will be made to the CIML. It was also agreed that Paul Dixon would put out a further call for experts.  
   
   

A great couple of days thanks to Paul Dixon (BIML) Secretariat skills and the Chairmanship of Cock Oosterman (Netherlands).
 
Further information regarding the meeting and its outcomes is available here.

At the recent 24th APLMF Meeting I advised I would provide an overview and regular updates on the work of the SRBs.

The Specialist Regional Bodies Forum (SRB)[1] was established in 2007, to bring together the SRB’s to work with the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) and other related fora.  The goal of the SRB Forum is to facilitate the implementation and development of standards and conformance infrastructure in each APEC member economy and across the region.
 
SRB SCSC meetings at APEC SOM 1 in Papua New Guinea in 25-27 February 2018.  The focus of the meeting was to have the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) SCSC members and the five Specialist Regional Bodies (SRBs) as the expert regional bodies responsible for the development of the standards and conformance infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region to have a joint meeting.  Stephen O’Brien as Convenor of the SRB Forum, on behalf of the Forum, invited all interested SCSC and economy representatives to attend an open session of the SRB Forum, as part of the SCSC 1 meeting, on Sunday 25 February 2018.
 
The purpose of this interactive session was to learn more about the recent work of SRB Forum members and the future work programme of the Forum. The session focused on how the Forum’s work programme is aligned to APEC objectives and clarify how the SRB’s can support APEC to achieve its goals and priorities.
 
The session included an opportunity for those attending to discuss current and future APEC projects or initiatives with the SRB representatives to identify potential areas where they can be enhanced through SRB member involvement. 
 
The response from the members was very positive with the APEC Secretariat encouraging member economies to consult SRBs to utilize their expertise in their respective works plan/programs for APEC funded projects. The interactive, open session was found to be informative and useful by those SCSC and SRBs representatives who attended.  As a result, the SRBs plan to hold similar open sessions at future SOM 1 Meetings.
 
The SRBs identified projects that their expertise would be of value and this was shared with the SCSC members.

​[1] APMP – Asia-Pacific Metrology Programme, APLMF – Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum, APLAC – Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, PAC – Pacific Accreditation Cooperation, and PASC – Pacific Area Standards Congress

The theme for World Metrology Day 2018 is Constant evolution of the International System of Units. This theme was chosen because in November 2018, the General Conference on Weights and Measures is expected to agree one of the largest changes to the International System of Units (the SI) since its inception. The proposed changes are based on the results of research into new measurement methods that have used quantum phenomena as the basis for standards that are fundamental.  The SI will be based on a set of definitions each linked to the laws of physics and have the advantage of being able to embrace further improvements in measurement science and technology to meet the needs of future users for many years to come.

Indeed more widely metrology, the science of measurement, plays a central role in scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, in improving the quality of life and in protecting the global environment.

World Metrology Day is an annual celebration of the signature of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875 by representatives of seventeen nations. The Convention set the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and in its industrial, commercial and societal applications. The original aim of the Metre Convention - the world-wide uniformity of measurement - remains as important today as it was in 1875.

The World Metrology Day project is realized jointly by the BIPM and the OIML.

​For more information about World Metrology Day 2018 please visit the official website. 

The Verification of Weighbridges training course was held in Beijing, China and ran from 26 - 29 September 2017. China and New Zealand provided trainers for the course. 

You can download and read the trainers report from the course here.

In the December edition of the Presidents Newsletter we cover the following topics:

Click here to read the newsletter in full. 

• 2017 Reflections
• 24th APLMF and Working Group Meetings
• Brunei Darussalam become Full APLMF Member
• 2018 Training Programme
• Appointment of Chair and Co-Chair to the Working Group on Quality Measurement of Agricultural Products
• Case Study: Enabling the Introduction of New Technology in the Forestry Industry
• Invoices for APLMF 2018 Membership Fees
• Economy Directories
• 'Full Member Only’ area of the website
• 2017 Verification of Pattern Approval of Water Meters Course
• APLMF Guide to Verification of Test Methods Update
• OIML Recruitment

Click here to read the newsletter in full.  ​

​In Canada, timber harvesting is a multi-billion dollar industry and at its core is the measurement of harvested logs. Companies buy and sell logs nationally and internationally and Canadian provincial governments charge taxes based on the volume of timber harvested when trees are from government owned (crown) land.

For centuries, the volume of logs has been measured manually.  Today, advances in measurement technology are available to automate the process of measuring the length, width and diameter of a log to determine its volume as the log moves thorough the mill, greatly reducing production costs.  This technology can also optimize how a log should be cut to obtain the most products, such as the number of 2x4s, with the least amount of waste.

The introduction of new log scanning technology, using lasers to measure the logs, is transforming trade measurement in the forestry industry. It has enabled the automation of the measurement of harvested logs, thereby improving measurement accuracy of this increasingly precious resource. Log optimizers have been used in mills for many years. However, several years ago, questions started being asked about adapting these devices to meet the Canadian federal government’s measurement requirements for accuracy and performance. 

When approached to determine whether or not these devices could be approved for use in trade measurement transactions, Measurement Canada staff began working collaboratively with provincial government officials, log scanner manufacturers, mill operators and other industry stakeholders. Together they developed the technical specifications, test procedures and physical test standards required to evaluate and approve this new technology. Subsequent evaluation and testing ensured the first log scanner installation complied with established requirements for accuracy and performance under actual conditions of use. 

The development of these requirements posed a challenge for Measurement Canada.  There were no established performance or testing criteria in place.  The drafting of the specifications required understanding of the environment in which the devices would be used and multiple stakeholder diverse perspectives and positions. The technical requirements and procedures had to be sufficiently rigorous as to enable reliable and accurate measurement of timber, but not so demanding as to slow the introduction of this new technology into the Canadian forestry industry.

In Canada, the approval and certification of log scanning technology for use in the forestry industry was a high profile, time sensitive project, closely monitored and scrutinized by provincial government forestry ministries and industry stakeholders.  The development of approval and certification requirements was also watched closely by regulators, logging companies and other stakeholders internationally as other jurisdictions could consider adopting the requirements established by Measurement Canada in the future. 

To date, several log scanners (also known as Timber Dimensional Measuring Devices) have been approved for use in Canada. The introduction of this measurement technology in the Canadian forestry industry has positively impacted the efficiency of timber harvesting operations, contributed to Canadian companies’ access to new measurement technologies, enhanced the provinces’ confidence in timber measurement and improved the level of protection all parties to timber harvesting transactions receive against loss due to inaccurate measurement.

​PTB has  the pleasure to announce that the 

CONFERENCE ON PRECISION ELECTROMAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS - CPEM 2018 

is taking place in Paris, France from July 8-13, 2018.   

The PTB is offering travel support for participants from our partner NMIs or Designated Institutes, which would like to present a lecture or a poster at this conference. 

You can submit your 2-page summary paper as well as your application for travel support online until 

January, 19th 2018.

Details on the conference and application procedures can be found here: 
http://www.cpem2018.com/join-cpem-2018/travel-support-programme/ 
http://www.cpem2018.com/newsletter/04/Newsletter_04_CPEM_2018.html