JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held 1

The EAQC-WISE blueprint:

Recommendations for a quality control system for chemical monitoring

under the WFD

A. Held

IRMM - Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements

Geel - Belgium

2JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

EAQC-WISE

Aim of the project:

Outline of a quality control system for chemical monitoring under the WFD

Current status:

“Blue print” developed, discussed with stakeholders at workshop June 2008, finalisation of report ongoing

3JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

The ideal system

• Effective

• Sustainable

• Clear responsibilities

• Secured funding

• Flexible

• Simple

• Feasible

4JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

• Proficiency testing

• Reference Materials

• Research

• Standardisation

• Validated Methods

• Communication of QA/QC information

• Training

• Accreditation

Building blocks for QA/QC

5JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Findings of the project - 1

Still many specific QA/QC tools missing (PTs, (C)RMs, validated methods, training products)

Lists of missing tools available(www.eaqc-wise.net)

Maintain lists Mechanism to fill gaps and initiate actions

6JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Findings of the project - 2

A lot of good initiatives related to QA/QC ongoing in different Member States

Coordination?Exchange of best practice?Strategic planning?

7JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Findings of the project - 3

Some developments hampered by language barriers (training, PTs)

How to solve?

8JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Findings of the project - 4

Competent authorities (CAs) are usually not experts in QA/QC

Accreditation bodies / technical assessors are not experts in WFD

• Provide support to CA on QA/QC• Provide support to accreditation bodies on WFD

issues

9JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

First conclusion

Forum needed that will

Link actorsExchange information and best practiceTake responsibility for processesInitiate activitiesFacilitate improved use of resources

Set up a system (the “blue print”) Structure of National and European Expert

Groups (NEGs, EEG)

10JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

National Expert Groups

Can begroup of expertsor nominated institute(s)or any other structurebringing together the required expertise

Up to CA to decide

Allows incorporation of any existing structure

One per Member State (MS) or group of MS or region (e.g. river basin)

Geographic coverage needs to be ensured

11JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Mandate NEG

• Advisory function to Competent Authority on QA/QC issues • Facilitate communication• Send delegate to European Expert Group (EEG) • Collect information on QA/QC issues and problems • Identify gaps and needs for QA/QC tools • Identify the reasons for the existence of those gaps • Communicate the need to a relevant body at national level.• Refer to EEG if European dimension• Early warning system• Provide input to the database of recommended QA/QC tools• Review quality control information, assessing fitness for

purpose of data, identify areas for improvement

12JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

European Expert Group

Consists of delegates of NEG + stakeholders (EA, CEN, EUROLAB, EURACHEM, DGs, …)

Clear mandate within the Common Implementation Strategy (WFD-CIS)

Could be part of the Chemical Monitoring Activity (CMA)

Sub-structure with working groups on specific topics

13JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Mandate of the EEG

• Advisory function to DG Environment, EEA and other relevant European bodies on QA/QC issues

• Collect information on QA/QC issues and problems from NEGs, European Accreditation (EA), networks of PT providers, training providers, etc.

• Support relevant voluntary networks of e.g. PT providers, provide them with relevant information and feedback

• Identify gaps and needs for QA/QC tools • identify the reasons for the existence of those gaps • Establish prioritised lists of needed QA/QC tools using

set criteria• Communicate the need for QA/QC tools to a relevant

body at European level• Maintain a database of recommended QA/QC tools for

WFD purposes

14JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Proficiency testing

Self committed network of PT providers that will work together to

• Organise PT schemes for all parameters on Priority Substance list

• Organise schemes at EU level also for analytes that are only analysed by few labs per country

• Guarantee harmonised performance evaluation• Decrease cost of PTs due to cooperation

15JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Proficiency testing

“Plan B”:

EC funding of PTs for crucial, difficult parameters in the event of market failure

16JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Reference Materials

• Survey of existing materials• Assessment of suitability for WFD• List of recommended RMs• Prioritised list of missing RMs• Support initiation of new RM developments• Provide guidance where no RMs are available

(yet)

17JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Reference materials

How:• Via expert groups• Criteria for prioritisation, criteria for

recommended RMs• EEG communicate to funding bodies, research,

RM producers etc.

18JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Research

The expert groups, together with river/marine commissions and a network of labs should

• Evaluate the status: where are the gaps?• Perform gap analysis: are current tools fit for purpose?• Define and classify the work to be done: direct towards

basic research or standardisation• Prioritise: level of importance of existing gaps, cost

effectiveness• Give feedback to regulator• Link to other processes: standardisation, validated

methods, reference materials, …

19JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Standardisation

• Needs for new or improved standards are collected by expert group, needs are analysed and tasks defined

• Investigation on existing tools, gap analysis• Definition and classification of work to be done

together with CEN• Prioritisation of tasks• Use of prioritised task list for proposing a new

mandate to CEN• Execution of new work items• Implementation of new standards in regulatory

framework

20JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Validated methods

• All methods to fulfil minimum performance criteria (QA/QC Directive)

• Maintain list of standardised methods fit-for-purpose for WFD

• Open list of validated, non-standardised methods not feasible

• Validation following international standards and guidelines

21JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Communication

Expert groups are cornerstone for communication of QA/QC issues

• Provide expertise and advice on QA/QC to CA• Review QC information, assess fitness for

purpose• Identify areas for improvement• Support data interpretation related to quality

issues• Provide advice at EU level, e.g. specifications

22JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

23JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Training

Voluntary network of training providers should• Notify labs, NABs, CAs and expert group of new

products and services• Collaborate to improve geographical and

linguistic coverage

24JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Training

Expert group• Collect, monitor and assess products using set

criteria• Communicate information on appropriate

training products to stakeholders• Maintain a list of appropriate training products

and services• Identify gaps in the provision of training

products, communicate to training service providers

25JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Accreditation

• Accreditation should become mandatory (labs and PT)• National expert groups should include member of NAB

and of monitoring labs• Communicate positive/negative experiences from both

to EEG• EEG advice on the improvement of the application of

accreditation in collaboration with EA• Specify requirements for accreditation at EU level• Same minimum level of competence of technical

assessors across EU• Working group of EA should deal with WFD specific

issues

26JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Accreditation

Working group of EA on WFD:• Common training of assessors on WFD issues,

exchange of experience• Minimum requirements for PT participation of

WFD labs (frequency, scores, action if not successful)

• Harmonise scopes of accreditation• Using existing guidance as much a possible

27JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

If you think this is all too ambitiousand it will not happen…

See our success story on proficiency testing…

28JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Consequences and follow-up

• Convert final report of EAQC-WISE into Guidance Document in activity 2 of CMA

• Approval of Guidance Document by SCG and Water Directors

29JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Follow up

• Initiation of additional voluntary networks:training providers, WFD laboratories

• Integration of European Expert Group in CMA (activity 2), update of CMA mandate to integrate EEG tasks

• Establishment of the National Expert Groups

• Setting up of networks including links with existing ones

30JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

Follow up

• Regular review of activities (self assessment of expert groups, including stakeholders)

• Regular update of mandates of expert groups