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Inventory of National Practices on Standards, Technical Regulations
and Conformity Assessment in the Western Hemisphere


V. Measurement and Metrology
C. Relevance to International Standards

Antigua & Barbuda

Argentina
The laboratories accredited under the SAC should comply fully with ISO Standard 25. Likewise, the SAC itself conforms directly with ISO Guide 58.

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Bolivia
The principal guides and recommendations of the ISO/IEC for accreditation and certification have been adopted. The guides and recommendations of the OIML have also been adopted for legal metrology, as well as the specifications for the International System of Units.

Brazil
The models followed by the Brazilian metrology system are those established by ISO, as recommended by CONMETRO Decision 05/88. Brazil is a signatory of the Convention du Metre of 1875, the formal basis for measurement upon which all other international activities in practical metrology are based. The objectives of the Convention du Metre are achieved through the authority it vests in the Conference Generale des Poids et Mesures (CGPM), the Comite International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM), and the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM).

INMETRO accreditation of calibration laboratories activities are operated in harmony with the ISO/CASCO (the ISO Council Committee on Conformity Assessment) and are in direct conformance with ISO/IEC Guide 58. To become accredited, laboratories must comply fully with ISO/IEC Guide 25 and national technical criteria.

Canada
Canada is a signatory to the Convention du Metre of 1875, the formal basis for measurement upon which all other international activities in practical metrology are based. The objectives of the Convention du Metre are achieved through the authority it vests in the Conference Generale des Poids et Mesures (CGPM), the Comite Internationale des Poids et Mesures (CIPM), and the Bureau Internationale des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). NRC represents Canada at CGMP and BIMP meetings.

The SCC accreditation and NRC certification of calibration laboratories activities are operated in harmony with the ISO/CASCO (the ISO Council Committee on Conformity Assessment) and are in direct conformance with ISO/IEC Guide 58. To become accredited, laboratories must comply fully with ISO/IEC Guide 25 and national technical criteria.

Chile
Chile is a member of the SIM and of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

Colombia
The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce renders national standards official upon comparison with the international standards, as recommended by the General Conference on Weights and Measures. It also establishes agreements with foreign institutions for mutual recognition of certification and inspection organizations and testing and metrology laboratories. The national metrology standards are referenced to those of the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt of Germany (PTB).

The basic documents for metrology activities in Colombia are, in the first place, those issued by the OIML; also used as references are the ISO standards, especially ISO/IEC Guide 25, the COPANT standards, and the recommendations of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Costa Rica
In its metrology work, the National Office of Standards and Units of Measure (ONNUM) follows the regulations of the International System of Units (SI), approved by the General Conference of Weights and Measures (CGPM). The metrological regulations are approved with the standards of the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML).

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador
International reference documents. The OIML recommendations for legal metrology are the basis for metrological activities in Ecuador. All the technical information from the OIML, especially those International Recommendations, are currently Ecuadoran technical standards by mandate of Ecuadoran Regulation No. PyM 92-22.

International reference standards. The Ecuadoran Technical Standards in Metrology are based on:
- international and regional standards;
- existing ISO standards in metrology; and
- COPANT standards, from the Technical Committee on Metrology.

El Salvador

Grenada

Guatemala
The Project for Accreditation of Calibration and Testing Laboratories includes the adoption of ISO/IEC Guides 25 and the standards from series EN 45,000.

Guyana
The standards adopted in the area of metrology are mainly international and regional standards.

Haiti

Honduras

Jamaica
In the area of Metrology the work is dictated by The Weights and Measures Act of 1976 and regulations under this act, as well as by the OIML Recommendations.

Mexico
The recommendations issued by the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OILM), the Convention du Metre and the International Standards Organization (ISO) are used as references in the area of Metrology. Furthermore, the "Guide for Drafting, Structuring, and Presenting Mexican Standards" (NMX-Z-13, 1977) contains a specific chapter entitled "Agreement with International Standards" where it is established that each standard shall mention the name and designation of the international standard that was taken as a basis, or from which particular features were drawn in preparing the Mexican Official Standards (Compulsory) and the Mexican Standards (Voluntary).

Panama
Guide 25 is used for preparing the Laboratory for compliance with ISO Guide 25 and the calibrations and tests pursuant to the recommendations of the OIML regarding existing international standards. We have COPANIT Standard 1 is usedfor the International System of Units.

Paraguay

Peru
Approval of the Peruvian Metrological Standards (NMP) is entrusted to the Commission of Technical and Trade Regulations as per the recommendation of the SNM (both entities are part of the INDECOPI). Under current regulations, the adoption of NMPs is based on international standards such as those of the OIML and ISO.

Saint Lucia
The SLBS is a member of the hemispherical Interamerican Metrology System (SIM).

Trinidad & Tobago
The TTBS is a correspondent member of the OIML (International Organization for Legal Metrology).

United States
During 1992, NIST began the process of revising the State Laboratory Accreditation Program to include the adoption of ISO/IEC Guide 25. In addition, the technical criteria being developed will be consistent with International Recommendations. Many of the ISO/IEC Guide 25 criteria are already in place in state laboratories; and many states have already begun the process of implementing the new requirements on a voluntary basis.

Uruguay
Uruguay has signed the Convention du Metre and is a member of the SIM, the BIPM, and the OIML. The relevant guides and documents of ISO are used in the programs for laboratory accreditation.

Venezuela
The program for accreditation of calibration laboratories includes adoption of ISO/IEC Guide 25. In addition, the technical criteria developed by the OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology) are taken into account for calibration purposes.

 
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