G/TBT/GEN/196  
 
12 May 2016  
(16-2623)  Page: 1/1  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
OIML ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE WORK OF THE TBT COMMITTEE 
STATEMENT BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR LEGAL METROLOGY 
This document contains information provided by the OIML at the TBT Committee meeting of  
9-10 March 2016 under Agenda Item 5 (Update by Observers). 
 
 
_______________ 
 
The following recent activities of the OIML are of particular interest to the TBT Committee: 
1.  Following two successful seminars in 2015 aimed at OIML support to "Countries and Economies 
with Emerging Metrology Systems" (CEEMS) rather than "developing countries", our organisation's 
International Committee of Legal Metrology was able to approve a wide-ranging resolution on the 
support to CEEMS. The OIML is currently pleased to be working with the ACP EU TBT Programme on the development of an e-learning package for metrology. The project is currently in the funding 
and tendering phase, but updates will be provided to the Committee as further progress is made. 
2.  The OIML is pleased to note that its Mutual  Acceptance Arrangement (MAA) was the basis for a 
presentation during the thematic session held on Tuesday this week. Unfortunately we were 
unable to attend this session due to other commitments, but would be pleased to respond by e-
mail to any questions members may have. The OIML  is currently reorganising and revising its 
Basic Certificate System and MAA into a single OIML Certification System (OIML-CS) in order to simplify procedures and give more confidence in test  results. This work should be finished in time 
for approval at this year's meetings of the International Committee of Legal Metrology and 
Conference on Legal Metrology, and we will  update the Committee at future meetings. 
3.  As reported at the last TBT Committee meeting, the OIML has become involved in 
implementation issues resulting from the requirement to weigh all shipping containers before 
loading under an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention Chapter VI 
Regulation 2, by the International Maritime Organisation. Many port operators, shippers, and related trade organisations still seem to be poor ly prepared for the implementation deadline of 1 
July 2016, and we understand some have asked for an extension to the implementation date. The 
OIML continues to encourage members to look in to the implementation of the SOLAS regulations 
in their countries, since inconsistent application could potentially create significant technical 
barriers to trade. 
4.  The OIML will take on the secretariat of the DCMAS Network at its meeting on Friday this week. 
This Network consists of those international organisations working on metrology, accreditation, 
standardisation, conformity assessment and quality infrastructure development. It intends to share 
and coordinate members' actions in relation to countries which are developing their national and regional systems in these areas. Further information can be found on the Network's web site www.dcmas.org. A revision of this web site is curre ntly under way, and will shortly be completed, 
making more information available on the roles of metrology, accreditation and standardisation 
within the national quality infrastructure. 
5.  For any further information, please contact: Ian Dunmill, 
Assistant Director, BIML, 
ian.dunmill@oiml.org  
__________