DOCUMENTS Country Report Expertise Centre COUNTRY REPORT 2006 - 2007

3.5 Metrology

3.5.1    Developments in scientific and industrial metrology

3.5.1.1    Traceability

3.5.1.2    Measurement uncertainty

3.5.1.3    Interlaboratory comparisons

3.5.1.4    Quality systems

3.5.2    Developments in legal metrology

Metrology as an element in the quality structure of a modern society is conveniently divided into three subjects, namely legal, scientific and industrial metrology, and in 2002 their developments in Turkey with relation to the Acquis Communautaire varied significantly. Scientific metrology was characterised by the advanced state of the National Metrology Institute UME, which was already living up to best practices of the EU. Industrial metrology throughout Turkey varied a lot from industry to industry and from region to region, and it was therefore not supporting the development of a competitive Turkish industry and not promoting free movement of goods to its full capacity. Finally legal metrology was operated according to a traditional approach of product control using mandatory standards for production, which had been abandoned by the EU several years ago; but further, the specific new approach directive, the measurement instrument directive MID had to be implemented. Therefore two dramatic changes had to be introduced in the legal metrology system of Turkey within a very short period.

At the time of the last country report, late 2006, all three elements of Turkish metrology have developed significantly. The national metrology institute, Ulusal Metroloji Enstitüsü, UME has maintained its international status, it has consolidated its national status, and last but not least UME has gone through a substantial enlargement that has lead to a tripling of its laboratory capacity; and with a newly formulated strategy, UME is now ready to provide return on these substantial investments.

Industrial metrology has developed gradually and satisfactorily. Helped by the accreditation scheme set up by TÜRKAK, there are now a number of competent laboratories that perform third party calibrations for testing laboratories and production industries. Also the metrology knowledge at the industrial level has improved through courses and workshops as well as through the formation of the laboratory association TÜRKLAB.

Legal metrology is in a less developed state than scientific and industrial metrology. However, a comprehensive legislative system is now in place under the auspices of the Ministry for Industry and Trade, a plan is being drafted for upgrading the laboratory capacity throughout Turkey, and a twinning project is running that will enable Turkey to perform market surveillance at a satisfactory level in the future.

It should also be noted that previously, the roles in metrology of several institutions were unclear, and this led to unnecessary conflicts of interest and to confusion among the users. This has now largely been resolved and a much clearer picture of metrology in Turkey, as an element of its quality infrastructure can be drawn.

The developments are described in more detail below.

3.5.1    Developments in scientific and industrial metrology

Modern metrology is founded on three pillars, namely traceability (including uncertainties), interlaboratory comparisons (ILC), and quality systems.

A measurement result or a measurement standard is traceable when it is linked in an unbroken chain of comparisons to a reference, either a reference method or a measurement standard, and eventually the definition of the unit of measurement for the particular case, often referred to as the true value. Hence, a mass standard is traceable when its value is linked through an unbroken series of comparisons to the value of the international kilogram prototype K; and a measurement of the content of aflatoxin in hazelnuts or chilli pepper is traceable, when it is linked to the proper reference method described in the codex alimentarius. In practise, traceability in today’s measurements are ensured through calibrations and participation in ILCs; and the role of the National Metrology Institute is to provide the link from the national measurement system to the international system of units SI.

Further, a statement of the measurement uncertainty must accompany traceability of a measurement result to a reference or a true value. Together with the result, the uncertainty defines an interval that contains the true value with a given confidence. This is important when the measurement is made to characterise a product so that one can be reasonably sure that it fits its purpose and it is equally important for a given measurement of aflatoxin to be sure that the content is within the allowed limits. Therefore, a traceable measurement is always accompanied by a statement of uncertainty.

Finally, metrology laboratories take part in comparisons. By measuring on identical or very similar samples, the results of many laboratories can be used to ensure that the results are really the same within the stated uncertainties. National Metrology Institutes take part in so-called key comparisons that are arranged by the consultative committees of the CIPM in collaboration with regional metrology organisations, in Europe EUROMET.

Since the signing of the CIPM-MRA in 1999, National Metrology Institutes also maintain a quality system, supervised by the regional metrology organisations. Accredited calibrations laboratories must also take part in ILC’s, and industrial laboratories often take part in “private” ILC’s or through the national branches of Eurolab.

The development in Turkey during the period 2002-2006 has been as follows.

3.5.1.1    Traceability

	The figure shows the annual number of calibrations performed by UME. These calibrations ensures international traceability, because of UME’s participation in the CIPM-MRA
	The figure shows the annual number of calibration of the small and specialised calibration laboratory Simkal. These calibrations are internationally accepted because of the accreditation by TÜRKAK and its participation in the multilateral agreement on calibrations of the EA.
	The figure shows the annual number of calibration of the big and diversified calibration laboratories at TSE. These calibrations are internationally accepted because of the accreditation by TÜRKAK and its participation in the multilateral agreement on calibrations of the EA.

Because of the increased trade with Europe, the request from European clients for traceability to internationally recognised standards has forced measurements in Turkey to be traceable to a much higher degree than was previously the case. Developments at UME have made it possible to achieve traceability by having calibrations performed at this institute, and industrial laboratories are now seeking accredited laboratories for the calibrations of their instruments. Hence, measurement traceability is now ensured much better than it was in 2002.

This development is illustrated by the three graphs shown above.

The upper figure shows the calibrations performed by UME. UME has a very diversified calibration scope, and it satisfies most needs of the Turkish secondary laboratories. The number has remained almost constant, which may be explained by the fact that UME has been very busy setting up its new facilities and has not had very much focus on calibrations. Nevertheless, it has enabled the secondary laboratories such as Simkal and TSE to increase their calibrations. The increase is most significant at Simkal, a small and specialised laboratory that has increased it calibrations by more than 50% during 2002-2006. It is less pronounced at the three calibration laboratories at TSE, which together form a multipurpose calibration facility.

Altogether the measurement traceability has developed satisfactorily during the period; and this development is likely to continue in the foreseeable future.

3.5.1.2    Measurement uncertainty

Since the accreditation authorities that operate according the EA-MLA request measurement uncertainty, a substantial effort has been devoted to introducing the GUM-concept for uncertainty since 2002, when this was very new in Turkey. Several courses on uncertainty calculations in a variety of metrology disciplines have been given, workshops have been arranged and most importantly, TÜRKAK increasingly requests uncertainty statements from calibration laboratories as well as analytical laboratories, both chemical and biological. Therefore the state of uncertainty knowledge has risen to a very good level, although the demand for more training is still pronounced.

3.5.1.3    Interlaboratory comparisons

During the period 2002-2006, the attention to comparisons has increased significantly. Again this is due the requirements of TÜRKAK, but also the MEDA project devoted to ILCs has increased awareness. A contributing factor to the increase in number of comparisons is that UME has been able to devote resources to coordinating these in accordance with its protocol with TÜRKAK. Also, the ongoing MEDA project on comparisons gives an important boost to the understanding of the importance of comparisons for the quality assurance in laboratories.

Three specific comparison activities are shown in the figures below. The upper part of the figure shows UME’s participation in the international comparisons arranged primarily by EUROMET, and this is part of the requirements for the countries that have signed the CIPM-MRA. This is a relatively big task for UME because of its many different disciplines of work, and it has been steady during the period, because the new facilities of UME have not yet been used in comparisons to any large degree.

On the contrary, UME’s engagement in the national comparison scheme has been significantly changed during the last two years where TÜRKAK has been active in accrediting calibration laboratories as shown on the middle graph. Out of the 18 comparisons, 3 are interlaboratory calibrations, whereas the rest are proficiency testing. The MEDA project “Identification, Supervision and Evaluation of Proficiency Testing and Inter Laboratory Comparisons” (Europe Aid/117469/C/SV/TR) has provided a similar number of comparisons that are mostly complementary to those of UME. This gives a total activity that is a big improvement over previous years.

The bottom graph shows the annual participation in comparisons by the laboratory Simkal as part of its maintenance of accredited calibrations under TÜRKAK. In this case, because of its limited scope, Simkal participated in a limited comparison activity.

3.5.1.4    Quality systems

All levels of the Turkish infrastructure for metrology now maintain a quality system according to ISO/IEC 17025 due to the participation in the CIPM-MRA and the relevant EA-MLA; and this is a significant improvement compared to the situation in 2002 for the secondary calibration laboratories.

3.5.2    Developments in legal metrology

Legal metrology is in a less developed state than scientific and industrial metrology. But a comprehensive legislative system is now in place under the auspices of the Ministry for Trade and Industry, a plan for upgrading of the laboratory capacity throughout Turkey is being drafted, and a twinning project is running that will enable Turkey to perform market surveillance at a satisfactory level in the future.

In 2002, the legal metrology system of Turkey reflected the past rather than the future, and also the member states of the EU were going to change their legal metrology systems significantly due to the introduction of new approach directives. The first one of its kind was the Non Automotic Weighing Instrument directive, which was introduced in Turkey in 2002 and entered into force in its final form in 2004. The latest one is the very comprehensive Measurement Instrument Directive MID that finally entered into force in the EU on 1 December 2006 after several years of preparations. For these reasons the practical development of Turkish legal metrology has awaited the final version of the MID, and hence, it has not developed very much during the initial stages of the project period.

The traditional objectives of legal metrology are still valid, namely to ensure proper measurements for the purpose of fair trade, with particular attention to the protection of the consumer, who cannot in general evaluate the measurements that are involved in trade. Weighing instruments constitute the major instruments for retail trade, but meters for gas, water, and electricity consumptions are also treated within legal metrology.

With the new and global approach directives, measuring instruments are subject to type approval, first time verification, and periodic verification. A notified body is nominated to the EU- commission as the competent body that on behalf of the member state issues the type approval; and a system of Market Surveillance must be set up. Both market surveillance authorities and notified bodies must base their assessments on testing results that are performed by technically competent laboratories.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has made the decision to modernise ten provincial laboratories that previously served as verification offices. In the future they will work as type approval and verification laboratories under the new approach on a regional basis. Seven of the laboratories have been established and three have been selected for upgrading. The ten laboratories will form the backbone of a new laboratory system under the MIT and the intention is to have them accredited; but they will be supplemented with available private and public laboratories that are capable of performing relevant tasks within legal metrology. A MEDA project has recently started to help MIT set up an appropriate and sustainable quality infrastructure to serve this purpose, and this project could profit significantly from the database on public laboratories that has been set up by TÜRKAK with the support of DTM. In this way the laboratory structure is being prepared for the future needs of Turkey within legal metrology.

In line with Turkey’s general policies, MIT will appoint Notified Bodies, based on an assessment by TÜRKAK; but the ministry seemed unaware of its obligations and responsibilities even if it appoints a different institution as Notified Body. So far no Notified Body has been accepted by the EU-Commission within legal metrology; but a number of candidates have been announced.

Finally, Market Surveillance constitutes a cornerstone in the implementation of Directives, including legal metrology. The Ministry intends to perform this with its own personnel, and it has started to do this in practice. However, in order set up the right structure for Turkey, a twinning project with Germany has been running for some time, so the picture is now becoming clearer for this activity.

In general, the developments of legal metrology in Turkey have been greatly facilitated by MIT joining the working groups of the European legal metrology organisation WELMEC in 2005.

None of the three elements of legal metrology, the laboratory reorganisation, the notification process and the market surveillance will be implemented in 2008; but the MEDA project will be finished early 2007. The final implementation of the MID directive is foreseen to take place in 2008.