1Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
on Reference Materials
ISO/REMCO BUSINESS PLAN
INFORMATION ON REMCO
ISO Committee
on
Reference Materials
ISO/REMCO
2Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
on Reference Materials
Key Revision(s)
ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. It has a membership of 163* national standards bodies from countries large and small, industrialized, developing and in transition, in all regions of the world.
ISO’s portfolio of more than 21 650* standards provides business, government and society with practical tools for all three dimensions of sustainable development : economic, environmental and societal.
ISO International Standards make a positive contribution to the world we live in. They facilitate trade, spread knowledge, disseminate innovative advances in technology, and share good management and conformity assessment practices.
* As of June 2017
ISO in brief
3Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
on Reference Materials
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Accurate measurements are an essential feature both of everyday life and economic activity. For example, they are needed to detect critical amounts of dangerous compounds in our food, to diagnose whether our bodies are functioning correctly for a healthy life, and to check whether a batch of steel is strong enough for the safe construction of a bridge.
Such measurements can only be performed when the corresponding measurement instruments have been properly calibrated. This is the same procedure as used when the accuracy of a set of weighing scales is checked by using a known standard weight. Consequently, materials which can be used for instrument calibration – such as the kilogram standard –are required. These are known as “reference materials”.
Because vital decisions may depend on measurements such as the examples given above, there needs to be confidence in the measurement result. Therefore, the correct application of critical measurement procedures must also be controlled by using reference materials which are similar to the material to be tested, and for which the measured value is already known.
In consequence, laboratories are able to verify their ability to measure accurately.
Why reference materials are essential
4Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
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Reference Material
RM
material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with respect to one or more specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intended use in a measurement process
Note 1 to entry: RM is a generic term.
Note 2 to entry: Properties can be quantitative or qualitative, e.g. identity of substances or species.
Note 3 to entry: Uses may include the calibration of a measurement system, assessment of a measurement procedure, assigning values to other materials, and quality control.
Note 4 to entry: ISO/IEC Guide 99:2007 has an analogous definition, but restricts the term “measurement” to apply to quantitative values. However, Note 3 of ISO/IEC Guide 99:2007, 5.13 (VIM), specifically includes qualitative properties, called “nominal properties”.
[SOURCE: ISO Guide 30:2015, 2.1.1. modified – Second sentence of Note 4 to entry has been modified.]
Definitions – Reference Material
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Certified Reference Material
CRM
reference material characterized by a metrologically valid procedure for one or more specified properties, accompanied by a reference material certificate that provides the value of the specified property, its associated uncertainty, and a statement of metrological traceability
Note 1 to entry: The concept of value includes a nominal property or a qualitative attribute such as identity or sequence. Uncertainties for such attributes may be expressed as probabilities or levels of confidence.
Note 2 to entry: Metrologically valid procedures for the production and certification of reference materials are given in, among others, ISO Guides 35.
Note 3 to entry: ISO Guide 31 gives guidance on the contents of reference material certificates.
Note 4 to entry: ISO/IEC Guide 99:2007 has an analogous definition.
[SOURCE: ISO Guide 30:2015, 2.1.2, modified – Reference to ISO Guide 34 has been removed from Note 2 to entry.]
Definitions – Certified Reference Material
6Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
on Reference Materials
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ISO/REMCO is the ISO Committee on Reference Materials that carries out and encourages a broad international effort for the harmonization and promotion of reference materials, their production and their application. Its vision is to be the global centre of excellence with respect to issues relating to reference materials.
The Committee, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015, has so far developed six ISO Guides and has contributed to symposia, workshops and congresses. ISO/REMCO activities focus on procedures for the production and use of reference materials. To fulfil this mandate, ISO/REMCO interacts with both stakeholders and clients.
E-mail : [email protected]
Web : www.iso.org/remco
REMCO
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◦To establish concepts, terms and definitions related to reference materials.
◦To specify the basic characteristics of reference materials as required by their intended use.
◦To propose actions on reference materials required to support other ISO activities.
◦To prepare guidelines for ISO technical committees when dealing with reference material issues.
◦To communicate with other international organizations on reference material matters.
◦To advise the ISO Technical Management Board (TMB) on reference material issues.
Objectives / Terms of Reference
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ISO Guide 30:2015 Reference materials — Selected terms and definitions
ISO Guide 31:2015 Reference materials — Contents of certificates, labels and accompanying documentation
ISO Guide 33:2015 Reference materials — Good practice in using reference materials
ISO Guide 35:2017 Reference materials — Guidance for characterization and assessment of homogeneity and stability
ISO Guide 80:2014 Guidance for the in-house preparation of quality control materials (QCMs)
Publications - Guides
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ISO/TR 79:2015 Reference materials - Examples of reference materials for qualitative properties
ISO/TR 10989:2009 Reference materials -- Guidance on, and keywords used for RM categorization
ISO/TR 11773:2013 Global distribution of reference materials
ISO/TR 16476:2016 Reference materials -- Establishing and expressing metrological traceability of quantity values assigned to reference materials
ISO 17034:2016 General requirements for the competence of reference material producers – CASCO
Publications
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on Reference Materials
REMCO Guide Structure
ISO 17034 covering the
required 'RMP competence'
ISO Guide 33
proper RM use
ISO Guide 31
RM
documentation
ISO Guide 30
RM
terminology
ISO Guide 35Establishing
RM characteristics
ISO Guide 80
in-house
preparation of
in-house RMs
TR 79RMs for qualitative
properties
TR 10989
RM categorizationTR 11773
RM distribution
TR 16476
Traceability & RMs
Chemical
purity CRMs
Homogeneity
and stability
11Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
on Reference Materials
REMCO Sub-comittees/Working Groups
ISO/REMCO/CAG Chairman Advisory Group
ISO/REMCO/AHG 4 Chemical purity CRMs
ISO/REMCO/AHG 5 Recent advancements in the assessment of homogeneity and stability for reference materials
ISO/REMCO/WG 6 Information services
ISO/REMCO/WG 13 RMs for qualitative analysis - Testing of nominal properties
ISO/REMCO/WG 17 Liaison coordination
12Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
on Reference Materials
REMCO Committee Structure
Chairman’s Advisory
Group (CAG)
Chair, Vice Chair, Past
Chair,
WG and AHG
Convenors,
CASCO Representative
Chair
Dr. Angelique
Botha
Secretary
Stéphane
Sauvage
Vice Chair
John P. HammondWG 6 Information
Services
John P.
Hammond
WG 13 RMs for
qualitative
analysis
Dr. Stefanie
Trapmann
AHG4 Chemical
purity CRMs
Dr. Takeshi Saito
WG 17 Liaison
Coordination
He Ping
AHG5 Recent
advancements in the
assessment of
homogeneity and
stability for reference
materials
Dr. Michael Winchester
13Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
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Chair : Dr. Angelique Botha
National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA), Private Bag X34, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa
Tel. + 27 12 841 3800Fax + 27 12 841 2131E-mail [email protected]
Vice Chair : John P. Hammond
Starna Scientific Limited, 52/54 Fowler Road, Hainault, Essex, IG6 3UT, UKTel. + 44 208 500 1264Fax + 44 208 500 1955E-mail [email protected]
Secretary : Stéphane Sauvage
REMCO Secretariat, ISO Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 749 02 77 Fax +41 22 733 34 30E-mail [email protected]
Officers
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Current membership can be found on the ISO website at: Participating Members
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ISO/REMCO has a very active liaison policy, with both international organizations and internal ISO Technical (TC) committees. It may liaise with other parties for a variety of reasons, for example:
• To formulate joint policies or to develop joint documents (e.g., guidelines).
• To participate in the affairs and/or to provide input.
• To act as an observer at a meeting for sharing information.
Liaison Policy
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The current list of International organizations in liaison with ISO/REMCO can be found on the ISO website at this link:
International organizations in liaison
International Liaisons
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The current list of ISO Committes in liaison both ‘to’ and ‘from’ ISO/REMCO can be found on the ISO website at this link:
ISO Committees in liaison
Liaisons (with ISO Technical Committes)
18Introduction to ISO/REMCO REMCO – ISO Committee
on Reference Materials
Website:REMCO on ISO.ORG
email:[email protected]
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