Government Laboratory
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Metrology is the science of measurement and its application. As one of the stream of metrology, metrology in Chemistry focuses on the study of comparability and traceability of chemical measurements to ensure the reliability of results. This is essential in establishing global mutual recognition of analytical results thereby to provide a technical foundation for wider agreements related to international trade, commerce and regulatory issues. Comparability and traceability are normally established through participation in inter-comparisons organized by regional/international metrology organizations like the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP), and the use of certified reference materials.
Since May 2005, the Government Laboratory (GL) has been included as a Designated Institute, in the field of metrology in chemistry for Hong Kong, China, under the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM MRA). Normally, National Metrology Institute (NMI) is institute designated by the national governmental or other official authority of the Member State of the Metre Convention as being responsible for national measurement standards whereas Designated Institutes (DIs) are specialist institutes appointed by government, an appropriate authority, or in some cases the NMI itself when it is authorized to do so, to deal with metrological responsibilities for certain national standards and associated services that are not covered by the activities of the NMI. Currently, the CIPM MRA has now been signed by the representatives of 79 NMIs and covers a further 135 DIs. Before that, GL became a full member of the APMP in November 2004. Besides, GL is also the founding member of the Co-operation on International Traceability in Analytical Chemistry (CITAC). To fulfill its commitments as a designated institute, GL has been an accredited proficiency testing scheme provider since August 2006 and an accredited reference materials producer since December 2010. Over the years, GL has actively participated in meetings, workshops and symposiums organized by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), APMP, BIPM, CITAC and other regional/international organizations. Through these regional and international activities and collaboration, GL continues contributing to the development and prosperity of Hong Kong and to the international efforts in building a firm and harmonized scientific measurement infrastructure for international trade, commerce and regulatory affairs.
With support of the results obtained from key comparisons organized by international metrology organizations, National metrology institutes or designated institutes are eligible to apply a Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) claim which is to be included in the Appendix C of the Key Comparison Database (KCDB) under the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM MRA).
CMCs are internationally recognized as the best measurement capability that a metrology institute could possess. With the CMCs claim, the institute can disseminate traceability to its customers through services such as
1. provision of calibrations or reference value
2. provision of certified reference materials (CRMs)
The CMCs claim obtained by the Government Laboratory can be viewed through the following link:
1. http://kcdb.bipm.org/appendixC/QM/HK/QM_HK_1.pdf
2. http://kcdb.bipm.org/appendixC/QM/HK/QM_HK_6_7.pdf
3. http://kcdb.bipm.org/appendixC/QM/HK/QM_HK_10.pdf
4. http://kcdb.bipm.org/appendixC/QM/HK/QM_HK_11.pdf
5. http://kcdb.bipm.org/appendixC/QM/HK/QM_HK_13.pdf
Reference Materials Production
GL is Hong Kong, China's Designated Institute for metrology in chemistry under the CIPM MRA and has the responsibility of disseminating traceability of chemical measurements to local laboratories. Provision of certified reference materials with property values traceable to stated references is a means of disseminating traceability, and testing laboratories could validate their analytical methods and establish the traceability of their measurements through the use of appropriate reference materials.
In December 2010, GL was accredited as a reference material producer in accordance with the international standard ISO Guide 34:2009. Over the years, GL commissioned the production of three reference materials, namely, reference materials for trace elements in herb, pesticides in tea and melamine in milk. Reference materials of similar nature are currently not available but are in need by the local testing community, therefore the reference materials produced will be of use to the local laboratories and the wider testing community with relevant operation.
In November 2011, the scope of accreditation has been extended to cover pure substance reference materials. Two new reference materials, namely high purity melamine reference material and organochlorine pesticides in green tea, are now under preparation. Details of these reference materials will be announced shortly.
Reference materials produced by GL will normally be issued free of charge under the following conditions:
| a. | to support the testing laboratories in Hong Kong in seeking accreditation; |
| b. | to support the outsourcing activities of the GL; |
| c. | to honour the commitments of GL as a Designated Institute under the CIPM MRA; and |
| d. | other conditions at the discretion of the Government Chemist. |
As a member of the international metrology community, GL keeps close contact with other national metrology institutes through regular participation in related meetings and technical exchange. Besides, GL continues to collaborate with the local and mainland inspection authorities and overseas testing and metrology institutes to promote the chemical metrology in the region. Recent collaboration programmes are summarized in the attached table.
| On-going/Coming events | ||||||||
| Date | Event | Collaborators | ||||||
| Sep 2011 – Dec 2012 | CCQM key comparison and pilot study in parallel with proficiency testing programmes for APLAC and APMP DEC on organochlorine pesticides in green tea (CCQM-K95, CCQM-P136, APMP PT 11-02, APLAC T081) |
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| June 2011 – Dec 2012 | APMP Supplementary comparison in parallel with proficiency testing programmes for APEC, APLAC and APMP DEC on essential and trace elements in seafood (APMP.QM-S5, APMP PT 11-01, APLAC T082, APEC PT) |
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| Jan – Dec 2011 | CCQM key comparison and pilot study in parallel with an APMP pilot study on trace and essential elements in herb (CCQM-K89, CCQM-P126, APMP.QM-P18) |
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| Past events | ||||||
| Date | Event | Collaborators | ||||
| 10 Nov 2011 | International Symposium on Food and Health — from Measurement Science to Quality and Safety | - | ||||
| Nov 2010 | Seminar on Metrology in Chemistry 2010 | Invited speakers from international / regional metrology organizations and bodies | ||||
| Mar-Dec 2009 | APMP pilot study on pesticides in tea (APMP.QM-P15) |
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| Jan-Nov 2008 | AOAC Multi-laboratory validation programme on determination of Aconitum alkaloids in dietary supplements and raw herbs | 12 laboratories from the UK, United States, Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong | ||||
| Nov 2007 | International Symposium on Food Chemistry Analysis and Related Quality Assurance Techniques |
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| Jun 2007 | International Symposium on Metrology in Chemistry with focus on Food Safety, Medical Testing and Consumer Protection |
Invited speakers from overseas and Mainland metrology organizations and the local accreditation body | ||||
Government Laboratory will organise an international symposium "Food and Health — from Measurement Science to Quality and Safety" on 10 November 2011. It will be an excellent platform for the local, Mainland and overseas scientists and experts to share their experience on the latest development and challenges of measurement science in dealing with various quality and safety issues related to food and pharmaceutical products.
2011 has been designated the International Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011) by the United Nations. This presents a good opportunity to demonstrate to the world the vital role of chemistry to our everyday lives and to our future. In this connection, the Laboratory will actively take part in activities to promote the importance of chemical and biochemical measurements in serving the community and improving the quality of our daily lives.
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