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DIRECTOR’S DESK

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The process of measurement is of considerable importance in every field of human activity. However, to be meaningful, measurements must be underpinned by metrology, the science of measurement. Worldwide, the total input to metrology is itself huge. This input is shared by the government and industry sectors of national economies. Governments are becoming increasingly aware of the economic and social advantages of having an effective national measurement system and, of the importance of such a system as a tool for industrial competitiveness. Non-uniformity in measurement, testing and product certification has become recognized as one of the major technical barriers to trade. As a result trade agreements between nations and regions, now specifically require all signatories to recognize the result of measurements and tests performed by the trading parties (The theme for World Standards Day 2002 - “One standard, One test, Accepted everywhere” is based on Conformity Assessment). This policy is supported by the WTO and will have major implications on national, regional and international measurement systems. Today, the movement of our society to higher technology is accelerating and brings with it the need for a wide range of new and complex measurements in fields such as medicine, environmental protection and food and drug evaluation, which demand more reliable metrology in the physical sciences – chemistry, biology, physics and engineering. National metrology systems especially here in the Caribbean are far from satisfying these needs and in order to keep pace, many new undertakings are required. Many companies are engaged in international trade and international co-manufacture of products has become commonplace. Environmental pollution problems often extend beyond national boundaries, and the list goes on. Governments have over the years enacted a considerable number of laws and regulations that require reliable measurement systems for effective implementation. The term “legal metrology” is used to cover this field of interaction between laws/regulations and measurement. Legal metrology originated from the need to ensure fair trade and provide consumer protection and is still mainly focussed in these areas. However, developments worldwide have led to the enactment of new laws and regulations and most importantly to a broadening of legal metrology to protect society in areas such as health, safety, commerce, agriculture and the environment. Measurements are never perfectly accurate, as a number of potential source of errors (human and mechanical) combine to give some degree of uncertainty to the final result. The accepted level of uncertainty varies considerably, depending on the application of the measurement: Measurement in the manufacture and use of micro chips would require a much lower uncertainty (higher accuracy) than retail measurements in the public market place.

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