European Reference Materials (ERM?) Initiative launched - Joining the efforts of reference material producers in Europe

A new European initiative aiming at harmonisation and further improvement of quality, reliability and performance in chemical analysis was launched by three major reference material producers:

The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) of the European Commissions Directorate General Joint Research Centre, the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und prüfung (BAM), Germany, and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC), UK.
The Director of the IRMM, Dr. Alejandro Herrero, the President of the BAM, Prof. Dr. Manfred Hennecke and LGC´s Chief Executive, Dr. Richard Worswick, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the 8th of October 2003 at IRMM headquarters in Geel, Belgium.
The ERM® (European Reference Material) Initiative is aiming at,- the creation of a European brand of certified reference materials (ERM®) of high metrological quality that receives world wide acceptance and recognition;,- contributing to the European Research Area (ERA), by joining forces for further developing specific competencies and co-ordinating resources of European certified reference material (CRM) producers.
Reference materials are a key to ensure reliability and comparability of the results of chemical analysis. They are a major tool for improving the confidence in, and the mutual recognition of test results and certificates in a global market of free exchange of goods and services. CRMs comply with high metrological requirements, ensuring traceability of measurement results, and in many cases form the end-point of the traceability chain, thus being primary standards in chemistry. ERM® are certified reference materials, which undergo uncompromising peer evaluation by the ERM Technical Board and offer highest quality and reliability.
Harmonisation and increased reliability through joining efforts in CRM production and dissemination will significantly contribute to strengthen the European Internal Market. Furthermore, it will ,- serve the public interest for a reliable European chemical measurement system;,- and increase the support of European legislation and trade with high-quality CRMs.
The three founding members of the initiative envisage to enlarge the partnership by taking on board all European CRM producers which are preparing, certifying and handling CRMs in full respect of ISO Guides 34 and 35 and which are signatories, or designated laboratories, of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
The ANALYTICA Fair, which will take place 11-14 May 2004 in Munich, Germany, will be the place for the official launch of the initiative and a selected ERM® product range.For any further information, please contact:
at the IRMM: ,Doris Florian or Sophie Roulette,EU Commission - Joint Research Centre,Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements,phone: +32 / 14 / 57-272, 571-297,fax: +32 / 14 / 584-273,e-mail: [e-mail], e-mail: [e-mail],web: http://www.irmm.jrc.be
at the LGC: ,Deborah Gaskell,Corporate Communications Manager,LGC,Tel: [phone],Fax: [phone],E-mail: [e-mail],web: http://www.lgc.co.uk
at BAM: ,Jurgen Lexow,Office for Public Relations and Marketing,Bundesanstalt fur Materialforschung und -prufung,Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin,phone: [phone],fax: [phone],e-mail: [e-mail],Web: http://www.bam.de
or visit the ERM? Initiative web site at http://www.erm-crm.org

Countries

Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom