Impact of Metrology in Uruguay SIM

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Impact of Metrology in Uruguay SIM OAS Project
Ing. Luis Mussio Head of Metrology Department
LATU SIM Technical Committee Chair
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Introduction

• Uruguay has been member of SIM since it was
  originally created in 1978.
• LATU has been active part of SIM in the present
  stage since 1995 as
• Suramet representative
• Technical Committe Chair
• SIM representative to the JCRB

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Aims of LATU in the project

• Uruguay is a small country producer of
  commodities and industrial products that require
  certification for export.
• LATU participates of the project to achieve
• Confidence in the results of testings
• Recognition of the test certificates

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Direct benefits to the Institution

• Personnel of LATU has been trained in courses and
  ..in first class institutes in among others the
  areas of
• Mass
• Length
• Pressure

• Legal Metrology
• Chemical Metrology
• Density

• LATU laboratories have participated in
  interlaboratory comparison and pilot studies in
  many areas

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Impact in the country - Health

• Uruguay (population 3 million) imports 120
  000 clinical termometers / year.
• 20 are rejected because they dont comply with
  the requirements
• 1000 sphigmomanometers are tested each year.
• Bad medical instruments lead to misdiagnoses,
  incorrect treatments, and wrong medication

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Impact in the country - Exports
A Pharmaceutical Laboratory was required by the
FDA to have their instruments calibrated and
traceable to NIST. LATU calibrations were
accepted and the products are now sold in the US.
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Impact in the country - Exports
Uruguay exports 7 000 tons of raw wool (2006)
8 500 tons of processed wool (tops) 15
000 tons of processed textiles 1.023 billion
liters of milk as dairy products (US238
millions) 1 500 000 liters of wine These
require certification of contents, and
contaminants. LATU calibrations and measurements
are recognized by the main buyers.
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Impact in the country - Environment
Uruguay Argentina are in conflict for the
instalation of a big celulose mill in the river
between the countries. Pollution of the
enviroment is alleged against this
factory. Training and comparisons done in the
frame of the project will be fundamental to
support and give confidence in the results of
LATU laboratories.
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The White Paper Case

• Sometimes NMI capabilities are very close to the
  market need.
• Canada exports 5 billion of white paper
• North American standards are traceable to NRC
  Ottawa
• European standards are traceable to PTB, Germany
• PTB and NRC standards of brightness differed by
  0.5 to 1
• If the Canadian industry was to meet European
  standards, they would need to spend US 65
  million per year on more bleach
• A comparison resolved the problem and saved the
  industry money

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Mutual Recognition Arrangement
The CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) was
signed in October, 1999 by the directors of the
NMIs of thirty-eight member states of the Metre
Convention, and representatives of two
international organizations now more than
seventy.
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CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement

• Objectives
• Establish the degree of equivalence of national
  measurement standards maintained by NMIs
• Provide for the mutual recognition of calibration
  and measurement certificates issued by NMIs
• Provide a secure technical foundation for wider
  agreements related to international trade,
  commerce and regulatory affairs

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Evaluation of the International Economic Benefits
of the MRA

• Total saving to the community of NMIs is about
• 85 M
• Participants cover 89 of world trade
• Conservative estimates of the impact of the MRA
  in reducing technical barriers to trade is over
  4 billion
• Source KPMG report 2002

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Evaluation of the International Economic Benefits
of the MRA
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Conclusions

• LATU has reached more visibility and recognition
  in the Metrology World
• Has access to training and know how.
• Participates in Metrological Activities at first
  level in Comparisons, Peer Reviews and
  International Committees.
• LATU has the tools for the participation in the
  Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the CIPM

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• Thank you very much for your attention
• lmussio_at_latu.org.uy
• www.latu.org.uy
• www.sim-metrologia.org.br