A Metrological Metamorphosis – Trade to Legal

Test & Measurement Conference 2010

Developed by Stuart H CarstensPresented by Jaco Marneweck

CONTENT

• Introduction

• Drivers for change in metrology domain

• Areas of concern

• Trade to legal metrology

• Implementation process

• SADC and Africa perspective

• Conclusion

• Questions

INTRODUCTION

• Metrology developed in line with civilization

• Developed in response to needs of the state

• Enabled state to plan, organize, defend and tax

• Role of metrology – to make measurement information consistent

INTRODUCTION

• State’s involvement in measurements provided:– trust in measurements– credibility of measurements– reduced disputation– facilitated market growth

• Strong state = strong metrology system

• French Revolution and the establishment of the metric system

INTRODUCTION

• Eric Hobsbawm, Britain’s most distinguished living radical historian, noted:– “the most lasting and universal benefit of the French

Revolution was the metric system………..for it is well known that such small changes usually require socio-political earthquakes to bring them about.”

INTRODUCTION

• George Washington’s first address to Congress identified six priority areas

• One being the establishment of a national weights and measures system

• Law included a Act on collection of excises on goods imported into US

• Main source of income until the introduction of income tax

DRIVER FOR CHANGE IN METROLOGY DOMAIN

• Globalization– At it’s peak in early 1900’s– Treaty of the Metre (1875) was a

reflection of the need of metrology to support globalization

– Single, coherent system of measurements

– Between metrology authorities– Turn of century states began to

establish NMI’s– Separated from LM bodies– Bipolar structure of metrology

DRIVER FOR CHANGE IN METROLOGY DOMAIN

• Expanding scope of metrology– Changes in agriculture, industry, transportation and

technology

– Movement of direct sales of products to multiplicity of transactions through production, wholesaling, processing and retail trade

DRIVER FOR CHANGE IN METROLOGY DOMAIN

• Expanding scope of metrology– Quality measurements were introduced e.g. grain– Establishment of water, gas, electricity telephone

utilities expanded the scope of trade measurements from the normal services where measurement was the basis for the fees charged

– Regulatory measurements• Environment, health and safety

AREAS OF CONCERN

• The biggest difficulty facing economies is the fact that regulatory measurements have never been properly incorporated into measurement systems– Reason: trade metrology systems are not adapted to

regulatory metrology– In trade metrology the government acts as referee– In regulatory metrology the government is one of the

parties– This situation is normally not covered by Weight and

Measures legislation– However national systems have relied on W&M

legislation to define the legal basis for measurements

AREAS OF CONCERN

• Another difficulty is the very basic and ancient requirement that measurements shall be derived from national standards i.e. traceability– But to what extent do we have a traceability

definition in our legislative system that meet requirements of modern society?

– In many cases weights and measurement systems do have traceability requirements but it does not cover regulatory measurements

– In fact we do not have a legislative basis which is appropriate for this expanded scope of legal metrology

AREAS OF CONCERN

• Economics – deregulation of industries– Change from integrated structure to one with separate

components e.g. electricity– Increases the need for metrology

• Globalization– Our ability to be a global role player will depend on:

• the way we resolve local difficulties,

• ensure integration into global measurement systems and

• mutual trust

TRADE TO LEGAL METROLOGY

• SQAM review was conducted in the 90’s

• Only area left that needs addressing was the legal metrology domain

• Due to the time lapse since original SQAM review a assessment was conducted to validate original findings of SQAM review

• Assessment confirmed findings of SQAM review

• Process of moving from trade to legal metrology has commenced

TRADE TO LEGAL METROLOGY

• the dti has developed a Legal Metrology Policy in conjunction with the NRCS

• Was presented to industry in October 2010 for review• Once approved a team of attorneys will commence with

the drafting of the Legal Metrology Bill• Act will be aligned with OIML D1 - “Law on Metrology”• After going through all required processes it will be

submitted to Parliament and Cabinet to be promulgated as Legal Metrology Act

IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

• Identify technical regulations that need to be aligned with international norms

• Identify new areas to be addressed once new Act is promulgated

• Discussions with relevant stakeholders

• Do risk assessment and decide on regulatory intervention

• Develop national standards through the SABS standard development process or adopt existing international standards through the same process

IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

• Conduct impact assessment

• Identify where and discuss with SANAS the role of accreditation in establishing calibration, test and verification laboratories

• Identify where and discuss with NMiSA their role to establish traceability

• Design, discuss and implement a self funding model to fund function of legal metrology

• Appoint adequate staff to police the function

SADC AND AFRICA PERSPECTIVE

• Many countries still have outdated trade metrology legislation in place

• Only a few has embarked on developing legal metrology legislation

• Model law on metrology was developed in line with OIML D1 – “Law on Metrology”– Law gives guidance to developers on both legal and

scientific metrology when developing law

• Process is driven through SADCMEL structure within SADC SQAM domain

• Africa - AFRIMETS

CONCLUSION

• Regulatory measurements is a problem – national, regional and international

• South Africa is in process of aligning its legislative infrastructure to facilitate the move from trade to legal metrology

• Stakeholder input and support is needed to achieve this

• Political commitment in SADC is needed to ensure process alignment in region

• Strong state = strong measurement system

Thanks for your attention

Any questions??