Working Group on Quality Measurement of Agricultural Products

​Terms of Reference

Background
The Survey of Technical Infrastructure Needs of Legal Metrology in Developing Economies conducted by Dr Knut Birkeland in February-March 1996 has identified a number of priority needs to be implemented in the region.  Among the many project proposals is one proposed by Thailand on a research and development project to develop A working measurement standard for the verification of field humidity meters for grain and rice.  

At the third Forum meeting in Vancouver, Forum members endorsed the setting up of a Working Group on Rice Moisture Meters.

Scope
The Working Group will study the quality measurements of agricultural products used in the field of legal metrology and the requirements for type approval and verification of instruments used for the measuring the quality of agricultural products. 

Objectives
  • To ensure the accuracy of quality measurement of agricultural product quality subject to legal metrology.
  • To establish the traceability of measurement in agricultural product quality,
  • To organise activities and develop action roadmap for legal metrology related to measurement of agricultural product quality. 

Targeted Outcomes
  • Establishment of APLMF Guide Document on agricultural products quality measuring instruments, other than grain moisture meters;
  • Implementation of type approval and verification of agricultural product quality measuring instruments to ensure accuracy in field determinations; 
  • Harmonisation of test method and test procedure with OIML Recommendation, and APLMF Guide;
  • Strength capabilities of quality measurement of agricultural product among members;
  • Establishment of traceability system for agricultural product quality measuring instruments among members to ensure the same standard within the region.
  • Experts on quality measurement of agricultural products, as a leader for implementing successful metrological control system for regulated agricultural product quality measuring instruments. 

Membership

​CWBM, Thailand
NMIM/ Sirim, Malaysia
National Metrology Center of Cambodia
Direktorat Metrologi, Indonesia
STAMEQ, Vietnam
Current Work Programme (Agreed @ 24th APLMF 2017)
Recommendations
  • New chair appointed
  • Transfer of international training programs to a regional or domestic level.
  • Continue to run training courses, economies still need a traceability and
    more practical knowledge / skills.
  • Revision of the APLMF guide document on Rice Moisture Measurement.
Emerging issues
  • Transferring over the assets of the working group to the new chair and new members.
  • Synergy among the stakeholders in each economy is needed as, multiple ministries can be involved. Remember to keep the stakeholders informed.
  • Co-operation with the private sectors. Training programs and contents are closely connected to the equipment, instruments and knowledge which are provided commercially

History

  • 1996: 3rd Forum Meeting proposed establishment of a new WG to study rice moisture meters. It seemed the chair (coordinator) was taken care by Mrs. Kerry Marston of Australia in this period.
  • 1997: Working Group on Rice Moisture Meters was established at the 4th Forum Meeting.
  • 2001: Mr. Issei Akamatsu of NMIJ took the WG chair. In September-October, WG conducted the first training course (a study tour) in Japan.
  • 2002: In January, President and Secretariat were transferred to Japan. In August, "Training course on Traceability of Rice Moisture Meters" was conducted in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
  • 2004: In August, "Training course on Traceability of Rice Moisture Meters" was conducted in Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
  • 2004: In November, "Training course on Traceability of Rice Moisture Meters" was conducted in Chang Mai, Thailand.
  • 2005: In August, "Training course on Traceability of Rice Moisture Meters" was conducted in Manila, Philippines. At the 12th Forum in November, WG chair was taken over from Mr. Akamatsu to Mr. Hiroshi Kitano (NMIJ).
  • 2007: In February, "Workshop on Metrology of Agricultural Products and Foods" was conducted in Chiang Mai, Thailand. At the 14th Forum in October, President and Secretariat were transferred to PR China. WG chair was taken over from Mr. Kitano to Dr. Tsuyoshi Matsumoto. The WG was renamed as "Working Group on Quality Measurement of Agricultural Products".
  • 2008: In June, "Workshops on Metrology in Food Safety, Agricultural Products and Product Safety" was conducted in Hangzhou, PR China.
  • 2009: In September, "Workshops on Metrology in Agricultural Products, Food Safety and Product Safety" was conducted in Ho Chi Ming, Vietnam.
  • 2012: In May, "Training Course on Traceability in Rice Moisture Measurement" was conducted in Bandung, Indonesia.
  • 2013: In November, "Training Course on Traceability in Rice Moisture Measurement" was conducted in Chang Mai, Thailand.
  • 2015: In November, "Training Course on Traceability in Rice Moisture Measurement" was conducted in Phnom Phenh, Cambodia.
  • 2017: In July, "Training Course on Traceability in Rice Moisture Measurement" was conducted in Spang, Malaysia. This was the 12th course/workshop.
  • 2017:  In September Dr Tsuyoshi MATSUMOTO resigned as Chair.  Nominations were sought from the membership to fill the position.  At the 24th APLMF in Cambodia Mr Surachai Sungzikaw, Thailand was appointed Chair and Mrs Haslina Abdul, Malaysia as Deputy Chair.  Dr Matsumoto will continue to support the work of this group.  ​
  • 2018: In March Terms of Reference for this WG updated.