The Importance of Proficiency Testing for ASEAN Reference Laboratory

Program
The Importance of Proficiency Testing for ASEAN Reference Laboratory
8th April 2014
The Suan Dusit Place Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

1. Background 
       All leaders affirmed their strong commitment in the Cebu Declaration on the Establishment of ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, therefore, Thailand should arrange involved in the economic sectors in order to be compatible both in the context of ASEAN and globalization world.
       ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality, ACCSQ, was established by the ASEAN Economic Ministerial Meeting in 1992 with the aim to strengthen the ASEAN member states to confront with Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) according to different standards and technical regulations setting up by the trading partner countries. The main ACCSQ missions are towards the harmonisation of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures as well as developing Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) of key commodities. ACCSQ has appointed nine Product Working Groups of which meet regularly to implement and monitor their missions.
       ASEAN Reference Laboratory (ARL) was set up based on the concept that it could help to facilitate enterprises on their quality in order to overcome TBT difficulties among ASEAN Member Countries by serving as a network for ASEAN testing laboratories. More importantly, upon request, ARRL shall serve as reference laboratories in cases where there are disputes in analytical test results in specific areas of expertise.
       ARL, shall

  1. Provide training on the methods of testing, technical support as well as laboratory services to AMS and NRL
  2. Become source of information or establish networking with ASEAN experts in the area of their expertise for the purpose of exchanging technical information
  3. Provide PT program or inter-laboratories comparison
  4. Build up source of information for certified reference materials (CRMs) or reference materials (RMs)

       During 11th Meeting of the Prepared Foodstuff Product Working Group (PFPWG) held in Manila, Philippines, in 2010 as well as in the 15th Meeting in 2012, DSS proposed the establishment ASEAN Food Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials (AFRL). In the arrangement process to be the AFRL for FCM and to be competent for endorsement by 2015, DSS needs to consolidate our potential and express our competence to be recognized. In addition, Experts from ACCSQ-PFPWG will assess DSS with onsite visit.
       In ASEAN rubber sector, DSS proposed Thailand to be leading country for an Establishment of ASEAN Rubber Reference Laboratory (ARRL) under Rubber Based Product Working Group (RBPWG). The drafted Guideline for ARRL has been transmitted to all members for consideration and requested all comments back to Thailand by 15th July 2014. Whenever, the Guideline and other documents are endorsed by ACCSQ, DSS will propose to be the ARRL for at least one rubber product.
       In establishing ARL, apart from being the ISO/IEC 17025 government laboratory accreditation body, a candidate for ARL has to demonstrate its capability to fulfill the requirement and the technical competence by being capable in providing “Proficiency Testing program according to ISO/IEC 17043”.
       It is timing to start our mission on ARL with the involvement of the whole units in DSS. Therefore, the initial program entitled “The Importance of Proficiency Testing for ASEAN Reference Laboratory” has been organized for DSS personnel readiness for  ASEAN Reference Laboratory.

2. Objectives

  • To gain better understanding, for DSS personnel, on the roles of DSS in the ASEAN Economic Community
  • To realise the importance of Proficiency Testing for ASEAN Reference Laboratory

3. Target Audience

  • Scientists and laboratory personnel
  • Other parties/ personnel in relating to the establishment of ARL

4. Program

  • Roles and Activities of DSS in Preparing for ASEAN Integration.  
    • ASEAN Food Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials, AFRL    (1.0 hr.)
    • Establishment of ASEAN Rubber Reference Laboratory, ARRL    (1.0 hr.)
    • The ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality- Working Group on Conformity Assessment (ACCSQ-WG2)     (1.0 hr.)
  • Proficiency Testing according to ISO/IEC 17043
    • Management System       (2.0 hrs.)
    • Conduct the Proficiency Testing Schemes

5. The training method : lecture and discussion 

6. Duration of the training course : 1 day, Tuesday 8th April 2014

7. Training facility : The Suan Dusit Place Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

8. Budgets :   53,560 Baht

9. Participants : 85 persons

10. Lecturers  

10.1 Mrs. Sumalee Tangpitayakul, Deputy Director General 
10.2 Mrs. Suda Nunthawitthaya, Director of Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation
10.3 Mrs. Rachada Hemapattawee, Director of Center for Laboratory Proficiency Testing
10.4 Mrs. Dusadee Munkwamdee, Senior Professional Scientist, Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation
10.5 Dr. Orawan Pinprayoon, Professional Scientist, Physics and Engineering Program

11. Advisor :    
Mrs. Sumalee Tangpitayakul,  Deputy Director General

12. Responsible persons :  
Dr.  Junpen Meka-apiruk, Director, Bureau of Laboratory Personnel Development
Miss Pattama Nopparat, Senior Professional Scientist, Bureau of Laboratory Personnel Development

13. Certification  :
Participants are required to attend more than 75% of all class sessions for their certificates, otherwise, be ineligible for certification.  

Program
The Importance of Proficiency Testing for ASEAN Reference Laboratory

8th April 2014
The Suan Dusit Place Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

 08.30 – 08.45 Registration
 08.45 – 09.00 Opening session
Reporting remarks - Dr. Junpen Meka-apiruk, Director.
Bureau of Laboratory Personnel Development.
Opening remarks   - Miss Saowanee Musidang, Director General. Department of Science Service.
 09.00 – 10.00 Roles and Activities of DSS in Preparing for AEC Integration ASEAN Food Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials, AFRL [Handout]
Speaker: Mrs. Sumalee Tangpitayakul, Deputy Director General Department of Science Service.
 10.00 – 11.00 Establishment of ASEAN Rubber Reference Laboratory, ARRL [Handout]
Speaker: Dr. Orawan Pinprayoon , Professional scientist. Physics and Engineering Program.
 11.00 – 12.00 The ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality- Working Group on Conformity Assessment (ACCSQ-WG2) [Handout]
Speaker: Mrs. Dusadee Munkwamdee, Senior professional scientist. Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation.
 12.00 – 13.00 Lunch
 13.00 – 15.00 Proficiency Testing according to ISO/IEC 17043
- Management System [Handout]

Speaker:  Mrs. Suda Nunthawitthaya, Director. Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation.
 15.00 – 17.00 - Conduct the Proficiency Testing Schemes [Handout]
Speaker: Mrs. Rachada Hemapattawee, Director. Center for Laboratory Proficiency Testing.
                                 

Noted   : 

  1. Whole program is in English.
  2. Tea and Coffee breaks:  10.30 hrs. and 14.30 hrs.