The standards, and conformance infrastructure has three key elements - measurement, standard writing and conformance assessment.

Measurement includes primary standards of measurement and a system of legal metrology. The measurement system must ensure that measurement in regulations, industry and trade is traceable to national physical standards. Measurement is the basis for trade measurement, product standards and conformance testing.

Standards writing encompasses the development of both voluntary and mandatory standards for goods, services and systems (including enviromental and management). Voluntary standards re developed by a variety of organisations according to technical expertise or expertise in standard writing. Standards Australia produces the majority of standards written in Australia. Regulatory standards can be developed by bodies with public policy functions, or on their behalf by voluntary standards writing organisations.

Conformance involves testing for conformance and certification f the technical characteristics of products, management systems and personnel against established standard.

lt also involves accreditation. Whether standards are voluntary or mandatory, it is increasingly expected that testers and certifiers to those standards will be accredited for the purpose. Accreditation provides purchasers ad other users with assurances about the competence and integrity f the conformance assessment providers. Generally speaking, accreditation activities in Australia are undertaken by a government body, or body with government endorsement.

Conformity assessment organisations such as testing laboratories, and product and quality management certification bodies, provide certification that the goods or services provided meet the required standard. In Australia, in the non-regulated sector, they operate n a competitive basis.

In Australia the components of the standards and conformance infrastructure are used by both the regulated and voluntary sectors. The reliability of measurement and the importance of traceability to primary standards are esserti.1 to both. In the area of standards ,writing, regulatory standards are often, created by calling p in regulation, voluntary standards. In other cases, regulatory agencies request Stardards Australia to develop standards on their behalf. In the field of conformity assessment, there are bodies undertaking testing for both voluntary and regulatory purposes.

Key organisations responsible for Australia's standards and conformance infrastructure including the following :

(i) Measurement

The National Measurement Laboratory (NML) is part of the Division of Applied Physics of the CSIRO. It maintains the physical standards base for all measurement, testing and quality systems in Australia as required under the National Measurement Act 1960. It also ensures that the standards of measurement in Australia are totally compatible with physical standards throughout the world. NML also provides top level calibration services to ensure that measurements in industry, commerce and the community are traceable to national standards. NML currently provides the secretariat for the Asia-Pacific Metrology Programme.

The National Standards Commission, (NSC) is a Commonwealth statutory body responsible for legal metrology (applied metrology which is subject to regulation) and coordination of the rational measurement system including the provision of advice on measurement issues to the Government. NSC presently provides the secretariat for the Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum.


(ii) Standards Writing

Standards Australia, a not for profit association, is recognised by the Commonwealth Government under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as the peak standards ,writing body in Australia. Its 1200 ,volunteer technical committees prepare Australian standards, which Standards Australia publishes and distributes.

Standards Australia standards are voluntary, but are often, adopted in, legislation. There are currently 5300 Australia Standards, of which a significant proportion are based on international standards. Standards Australia currently provides secretariat support for the Pacific Area Standards Congress.


(iii) Conformance

The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), a private on-profit company, provides a national system for the accreditation of laboratories. The Commonwealth Government recognises NATA as the national authority for accrediting, testing and calibration, of laboratories. NATA is responsible for accrediting personnel accommodation, facilities, equipment, management and laboratory practices. Secretariat support for the Asia-Pacific Laboratory Accreditation, Cooperation is presently provided by NATA.

The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) is an intergovernmental, non- profit organisation ,managed by a Council. It was established formally by an agreement between the Australian and New Zealand Governments in 1991. Its primary role is to accredit organisations which conduct conformity certification programmes in Australia and New Zealand. It has the authority to accredit bodies to certify quality systems, product conformances and personnel, and also to accredit laboratory accreditation bodies. To date, fourteen quality management systems certification bodies and one auditor training certification body have been accredited by JAS-ANZ. It is also now offering accreditation for environmental management systems certification bodies and product certifiers. JAS-ANZ currently provides secretariat support for the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation.