L@B Brief -- November 2023
Hello again,
Last month’s meeting of the International Standards Organisation’s (ISO) committee on laboratory equipment, TC48, highlighted what has become a trend in all international standards committees, a concerted effort by China to gain the leadership of standards committees.
The business being done by TC48 included a re-structure of the committee’s working groups in three areas:
- Non-measuring equipment made of glass, plastic and ceramics,
- Volume measuring instruments, and
- Laboratory furniture.
In every case the Chinese sought to provide the secretariat for the committee, and in each case, another country with more experience of running standards committees and formulating standards, was recommended to take on the role instead.
The meeting had the advantage of being chaired by Charles Pascall, a very experienced committee chair from the UK (and an ex-employee of GAMBICA member, AlphaLabs), but other areas of standards have not benefitted from a co-ordinated approach. For example, in June a proposal was made by the Chinese National Committee for a new Project Committee (PC) on Performance of cold storage equipment for medical use. All national bodies were invited to vote on the proposal and further inquiries are underway as to overlaps with existing committees.
GAMBICA is able to nominate members to participate on British Standards Committees with a view to being nominated to sit on International Standards Committees. If your business is affected by or uses international standards and you would like to ensure that your interests are adequately addressed, please put your name forward by emailing me at [email protected]
Toodle pip!
Jacqueline
INSIDE this ISSUE
Comment: Should we worry about Chinese concerted efforts on standards?
Lab space critical to science superpower status Ministers told plus Lab space movements in the UK
Sales outlook: Americans depressed and Germans fearful of Chinese dumping
Exhibitors satisfied with Medica
Research round-up; Bleach does not tackle fatal C diff bug… AI identifies possible gonorrhea vaccine target… But humans make better cancer treatment decisions than AI… Light exposure breakthrough on Lyme Disease…
GAMBICA members prominent at Lab Innovations
Proof of identity requirements ramped up for chemicals
GAMBICA member MPB secures 70% of UK ventilator flow measurement market
Also inside: Further acknowledgement of delays on export licences | GAMBICA events and industry events