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Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)
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MoU between ILAC, IAF and the OIMLIntroduction The OIML has drawn up systems to facilitate cooperation between its Members, notably concerning the recognition of Test Reports between them. The OIML Certificate System for Measuring Instruments, established in 1991, allows designated bodies (OIML Issuing Authorities) to issue OIML Certificates of Conformity to attest the conformity of types of measuring instruments which are examined and tested according to the requirements of certain OIML Recommendations. For that purpose, those OIML Recommendations that are applicable within the System define detailed testing and examination procedures and report formats. An additional tool to this System was implemented in 2005 to increase confidence in test and examination results. The OIML Mutual Acceptance Arrangement (MAA) allows a participant in a Declaration of Mutual Confidence (DoMC) to accept and utilize test and examination results issued by the other participants. This Mutual Confidence is based on an evaluation of the testing laboratories according to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. In the field of prepackages, the OIML has started technical work in order to develop an international conformity marking to facilitate marketing of prepackaged goods. All these Systems implement requirements similar to those applicable to the accreditation of testing laboratories, to the accreditation of certification bodies and to product certification.
Existing cooperation has increased thanks to the implementation of the OIML MAA. Under the MAA, the evaluation of the competence of the testing laboratories shall be demonstrated by one of the following means: • Accreditation by an ILAC full Member, which covers the
scope of testing in the field of legal metrology and according to the
relevant OIML Recommendation; The 2006 MoU between ILAC and the OIML (signed on 12 November 2006) includes shared interpretations of common technical issues (e.g. assessments according to ISO/IEC 17025) and shared use of technical and metrological experts (validated by the OIML) and lead assessors (validated by National Accreditation Bodies, ILAC full Members).
Under the OIML MAA, the evaluation of the competence of OIML Issuing Authorities is only required in terms of a self-declaration. The requirements to be applied here are those of ISO/IEC Guide 65 General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems. To this end, the BIML has drawn up a Guide for the application of ISO/IEC Guide 65 to legal metrology (OIML D 30:2008). It should be noted that ISO/IEC Guide 65 is currently under revision, and will become ISO/IEC 17065. The scope and structure will be fundamentally modified to be consistent with those of ISO/IEC 17021, the aim being to draw up a Standard which can easily be used by Accreditation Bodies to assess product Certification Bodies. ISO CASCO WG 29 is responsible for this revision and as a liaison organization, the OIML participates in this Working Group. The OIML is also developing a scheme to set up an OIML Quantity Mark for pre-packaged products. Evaluations on the basis of ISO/IEC Guide 65, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17021 and ISO 9001 should be envisaged since such a scheme would involve: • Product Certification Bodies; Such a scheme could be extended to initial and (periodic) re-verifications of measuring instruments which could involve various conformity assessment procedures such as: • Product verification conducted by a third-party inspection
body; In this field, cooperation is being developed between the IAF and the OIML, similar to that between ILAC and the OIML and includes shared interpretation of appropriate ISO/IEC Standards and development of OIML training for assessors of National Accreditation Bodies, signatories of the IAF Product MLA, who will be responsible for accrediting, in the field of legal metrology, product certification bodies, inspection bodies and bodies providing audit and certification of management systems. The 2007 MoU, including its extension to include the IAF, was signed by Mr. Daniel Pierre (ILAC Chair), Mr. Thomas Facklam (IAF Chair) and Mr. Alan Johnston (CIML President) on 28 October 2007 during the ILAC/IAF General Assembly held in Sydney (see photo).
2010 Renewal of the MoU The 2010 MoU replaces the one from 2007 and has been slightly revised. A note was added to clarify when “legal metrology” is considered to be included in the scope of accreditation. The new MoU was signed on 28 October 2010 during the ILAC/IAF Joint General Assembly in Shanghai (see photo).
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