Working Group on Quality Measurement of Agricultural Products (formerly Rice Moisture Measurement)

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 requirements for type approval and verification for rice moisture meters.

OBJECTIVES

To ensure the accuracy of measurement of rice moisture.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

i.         A survey on the types, usage and field development of rice moisture meters;

ii.        Type approval and verification of rice moisture meters to ensure accuracy in field determinations.

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.