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Role of measurement uncertainty in conformity assessment in legal metrology and trade

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Abstract

There is increasing interest in the role of measurement uncertainty in conformity assessment, particularly where measurements are in support of fair trade, health & safety and the environment. A lack of clarity, however, in treating measurement uncertainties and in setting specification limits for compliance may sometimes lead to drastic consequences. Examples concerning conformity assessment, particularly in the measurement of trace quantities (Cd in plastics and antibiotic trace residues in shrimps), are amongst cases identified in the ongoing EU project MetroTrade, which can be significant impediments to international trade. This paper considers the present status of the role of measurement uncertainty in conformity testing, covering both recent work in international standardisation and physical metrology (e.g. OIML recommendations on weighing). One conclusion is that, while much has been achieved, there still exists some work to be done in order to facilitate acceptance of conformity from both customer and supplier and avoid perceived barriers to trade and serious international trade disputes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for useful discussions with Maurice Cox (NPL), Göran Nilsson, Marc Priel, the organisers of the MetroTrade workshop (BAM, Berlin, 30–31 January 2003) as well as all other members of the MetroTrade project (EU G7RT-CT-2000-05004, project coordinator DFM, other project members: BNM, NPL, EUROLAB, SP, MIRS, INMS and IRMM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Metrology Institute, SP Swedish National Testing & Research Institute, Box 857, SE-50115 , Borås, Sweden

    Håkan Källgren, Bertil Magnusson & Leslie Pendrill

  2. IRMM European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg, B-2440, Geel, Belgium

    Margreet Lauwaars & Phillip Taylor

Authors
  1. Håkan Källgren
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  2. Margreet Lauwaars
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  3. Bertil Magnusson
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  4. Leslie Pendrill
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  5. Phillip Taylor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leslie Pendrill.

Additional information

Presented at the MetroTrade Workshop on Traceability and Measurement Uncertainty in Testing, 30–31 January 2003, Berlin, Germany

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00769-004-0712-6

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Källgren, H., Lauwaars, M., Magnusson, B. et al. Role of measurement uncertainty in conformity assessment in legal metrology and trade. Accred Qual Assur 8, 541–547 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-003-0707-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-003-0707-8

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