PRESS RELEASE European Reference Materials (ERM®) Initiative ...
PRESS RELEASE European Reference Materials (ERM®) Initiative ...
PRESS RELEASE European Reference Materials (ERM®) Initiative ...
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<strong>PRESS</strong> <strong>RELEASE</strong><br />
<strong>European</strong> <strong>Reference</strong> <strong>Materials</strong> (ERM ® ) <strong>Initiative</strong> launched:<br />
Joining the efforts of reference material producers in Europe<br />
A new <strong>European</strong> initiative aiming at harmonisation and further improvement of quality, reliability and<br />
performance in chemical analysis was launched by three major reference material producers: the<br />
Institute for <strong>Reference</strong> <strong>Materials</strong> and Measurements (IRMM) of the <strong>European</strong> Commission’s<br />
Directorate General Joint Research Centre, the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung<br />
(BAM), Germany, and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC), UK.<br />
The Director of the IRMM, Dr. Alejandro Herrero, the President of the BAM, Prof. Dr. Manfred<br />
Hennecke and LGC´s Chief Executive, Dr. Richard Worswick, signed the Memorandum of<br />
Understanding on the 8 th of October 2003 at IRMM headquarters in Geel, Belgium.<br />
The ERM ® (<strong>European</strong> <strong>Reference</strong> Material) <strong>Initiative</strong> is aiming at<br />
• the creation of a <strong>European</strong> brand of certified reference materials (ERM ® ) of high metrological<br />
quality that receives world wide acceptance and recognition<br />
• contributing to the <strong>European</strong> Research Area (ERA), by joining forces for further developing<br />
specific competencies and co-ordinating resources of <strong>European</strong> certified reference material (CRM)<br />
producers.<br />
<strong>Reference</strong> materials are a key to ensure reliability and comparability of the results of chemical<br />
analysis. They are a major tool for improving the confidence in, and the mutual recognition of test<br />
results and certificates in a global market of free exchange of goods and services. CRMs comply with<br />
high metrological requirements, ensuring traceability of measurement results, and in many cases form<br />
the end-point of the traceability chain, thus being primary standards in chemistry. ERM ® are certified<br />
reference materials, which undergo uncompromising peer evaluation by the ERM Technical Board and<br />
offer highest quality and reliability.<br />
Harmonisation and increased reliability through joining efforts in CRM production and dissemination will<br />
significantly contribute to strengthen the <strong>European</strong> Internal Market. Furthermore, it will<br />
• serve the public interest for a reliable <strong>European</strong> chemical measurement system<br />
• and increase the support of <strong>European</strong> legislation and trade with high-quality CRMs.<br />
The three founding members of the initiative envisage to enlarge the partnership by taking on board all<br />
<strong>European</strong> CRM producers which are preparing, certifying and handling CRMs in full respect of ISO<br />
Guides 34 and 35 and which are signatories, or designated laboratories, of the CIPM Mutual<br />
Recognition Arrangement (MRA).<br />
The ANALYTICA Fair, which will take place 11-14 May 2004 in Munich, Germany, will be the place for<br />
the official launch of the initiative and a selected ERM ® product range.
For any further information, please contact:<br />
• at the IRMM: Doris Florian or Sophie Roulette<br />
<strong>European</strong> Commission<br />
Joint Research Centre<br />
Institute for <strong>Reference</strong> <strong>Materials</strong> and Measurements<br />
phone: +32 / 14 / 57-272, 571-297<br />
fax: +32 / 14 / 584-273<br />
email: doris.florian@cec.eu.int, sophie.roulette@cec.eu.int<br />
web: www.irmm.jrc.be<br />
• at the LGC: Deborah Gaskell<br />
Corporate Communications Manager<br />
LGC<br />
Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7563<br />
Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 2767<br />
Email: deborah.gaskell@lgc.co.uk<br />
web: www.lgc.co.uk<br />
• at BAM: Jürgen Lexow<br />
Office for Public Relations and Marketing<br />
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung<br />
Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin<br />
phone: +49 30 8104-1001<br />
fax: +49 30 8104-3037<br />
email: juergen.lexow@bam.de<br />
Web: www.bam.de<br />
or visit the ERM ® <strong>Initiative</strong> web site at http://www.erm-crm.org.<br />
MoU 08.10.2003 – ERM 2/2