OPTC: Prepackaged goods training course

OIML Pilot Training Center: Prepackaged goods

10–13 April 2018 - Nanning, P.R. China

nanning china

Context

An OIML Pilot Training Center (OPTC) event, the “OIML/APLMF Training Course on Prepackaged Goods” was held in Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China from 10–13 April, 2018. This training course was jointly organized by the OIML, the Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), P.R. China. It was supported by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the OIML Pilot Training Center (OPTC).


Mr. Stephen Patoray BIML Director	Mr. Qin Yizhi Vice Minister of the SAMR	Mr. Li Bin Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Mr. Stephen Patoray, BIML Director, Mr. Qin Yizhi, Vice Minister of the SAMR, and Mr. Li Bin, Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Mr. Pu Changcheng, the OIML Advisory Group (AG) Chair and over 70 representatives from Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Zambia and the USA participated.

The aim of this training course was to help improve and harmonize metrological capability in the OIML Member States and in the Asia-Pacific region and facilitate trade development through the removal of technical barriers and the application of consistent regulatory practice. The training was primarily focused on the practical application of the Average Quality System (AQS) through the presentation of the relevant OIML international requirements in both classroom style learning and through practical exercises. It covered OIML R 79 Labelling requirements for pre-packaged goods and R 87 Quantity of product in pre-packages in addition to providing valuable insights into ‘best practice’ in this area of legal metrology, including guidance on system requirements for a certification system for prepackages.

nanning group discussion

Group discussion during the training course

The Prepackaged Goods training course comprised thematic lectures, on-site training and group discussions, and was led by invited experts from New Zealand and Switzerland as co-trainers. Participants also visited the Guangxi Institute of Metrology and a Shuanghui Group for on-site practice. Through the lectures by trainers, open discussions and face-to-face exchanges of experiences, each participant acquired the skills and knowledge to understand and apply the requirements of OIML R 87 and R 79, inspect prepackaged goods using internationally accepted AQS methodology, determine whether their economy’s current inspection systems meet OIML requirements, and develop an action plan to implement OIML requirements.

On the last day of the training, Mr. Pu Changcheng issued a certificate to every participant who completed this training course.

Following on from the three successful events already held in P.R. China, this fourth OPTC training course is yet another important international metrology activity. As emphasized by Mr. Patoray, the OIML has always attached great importance to helping Counties and Economies with Emerging Metrology System (CEEMS). In recent years, at the suggestion of Mr. Pu Changcheng the OIML has continuously enriched and innovated both the form and the scope of its activities to assist the CEEMS community, and has also made a great contribution through the establishment of the OIML AG and OPTC.

The AG will continue to expand the scope of its work in the future. For example, Mr. Peter Mason, CIML immediate past President, will take the lead in revising OIML D 1 Considerations for a Law on Metrology and more attention will be paid to ensuring a sound quality infrastructure construction of CEEMS countries. The AG will help the CEEMS community to learn and benefit from international metrological regulations. It will also provide new opportunities for the improvement of this very important International Document.

nanning Xie Jun

Mr. Xie Jun
Director General of the Department of Metrology, SAMR

In his concluding remarks Mr. Xie Jun, Director General of the Department of Metrology, SAMR said “it is understood that this training course is a useful attempt to carry out cooperative training between the OIML and the APLMF, two international and regional legal metrology organizations. Through such activity, all of the participants have improved their understanding of the unified international metrology standards and capabilities in measurement and testing. The experience exchanging and sharing will effectively enhance the coordination and implementation of international metrological regulation so as to achieve the goal of eliminating trade barriers, facilitating trade, and prospering economic development”.

nanning group photo