. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/45 
8 December 2006 
 (06-5874) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
 
REPORT PROVIDED BY THE OIML  AT THE TBT COMMITTEE MEETING  
OF  9 NOVEMBER 2006 
 
Agenda Item 5:  Updating by Observers
 
 
  The  following report, dated 9 November 2006, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML)
. 
 
 
_______________ 
 1. The OIML works for international harmonisati on in the field of legal metrology. The 
following developments in its work since our last re port in June are of interest to the TBT Committee: 
I. MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE ARRANGEMENT 
2. The first Declarations of Mutual Confiden ce (DoMCs) under the OIML Mutual Acceptance 
Arrangement (MAA) have now been signed, on non -automatic weighing instruments (OIML R 76) 
and load cells (OIML R 60).  Manufacturers in two OIML Member States have already begun the 
process of obtaining test reports for instruments under these DoMCs. 
3. Work on the next DoMC for water meters (OIML R 49) is continuing. 
4. Further information can be found at www.oimi.org/maa. 
II. PACKAGED GOODS SEMINAR 
5. A seminar on "Legal metrology aspects of pre- packaging for international trade"  was held on 
16 October in Cape Town, South Africa.  The successful seminar was well attended and addressed 
packaging, labelling, the use of measuring container bottles (MCBs) and OIML work on the development of an international quantity mark.  A ll presentations made at the seminar, as well as the 
conclusions are available on the OIML web site at http://workgroups.oiml.org/packaging-seminar. 
The following are the main points raised during the seminar: 
• The economical importance of pre-packages was hi ghlighted and participants noted a general 
need for the harmonization of national regulatio ns and for mutual acceptance of pre-package 
certifications. 
• The issue of labelling is still an important barrier  to trade and OIML R 79 should be reviewed and 
revised to help in its elimination.  This revi sion should be done in cl ose cooperation with other 
International Organizations such as CODEX and the OIV. G/TBT/GEN/45 
Page 2  
 
  • The work on an OIML Quantity Mark for pre- packages should begin by assessing the regulatory 
needs of OIML Member States and Corresponding Members and by consulting pre-packers and 
consumers in order to take account of their needs. The work of OIML TC 6 Pre-packaged 
products  should be as open as possible to pre-packers'  associations and to consumer associations. 
 
• TC 6 should also develop a number of guidance doc uments, in particular guides for pre-packers. 
 
• The issue of the use of minimum quantity versus average quantity should be studied in order to 
provide solutions to the situation existing in all countries and to small packers as well as to large companies. 
 
• OIML R 96 Measuring Container Bottles  should also be revised in order to allow easy and non-
destructive control of bottles, and should be  the object of a mutual acceptance process. 
 
• The envisaged OIML Quantity Mark will be  a voluntary system, which means that: 
 Member States may decide whether they will participate or not,  
 Countries may decide whether they will or will not accept this Mark,  
 Packers may decide whether to apply for an OIML Mark or not. 
 
III. PERMANENT WORKING GROUP ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (PWGDC) 
6. At its recent meeting, the chairman of the PWGDC proposed the establishment of an OIML 
award for achievements in legal metrology to encourage developing countries to improve their 
metrological infrastructure.  This idea and others will be examined in a paper on OIML developing 
country strategy to be prepared early in 2007. 
IV. TRANSPARENCY/OPENNESS 
7. The OIML is now making more general use of a- new online "forum" system to make 
participation in the OIML's technical work more  accessible to Members, following a successful trial 
phase.  The introduction of this system was welcomed by Members at October's 41
st meeting of the 
International Committee of Legal Metrology (CIML). 
 
__________