Role of national metrology institutes for comparable measurements

The global economy and fair trade commitment has forced the need to demonstrate equivalence between national measurement standards. That includes a need to meet ever-increasing demands for accuracy, range, and diversity of measurements. Recent activities of national metrology institutes (NMIs) are among the topics discussed in this article. These include mutual recognition of calibration and measurement certificates of NMIs under mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs), operated among NMIs under an international framework of five regional metrology organizations (RMOs). Particular attention is given to the efforts of Mexico's NMI, Centro Nacional de Metrologia (CENAM), to establish a national traceable measurement system for sectoral testing laboratories for agriculture. Other initiatives include proficiency testing in collaboration with the Colegio de Posgraduados, the intention being to promote development and certification of reference materials and to establish sectoral reference laboratories in the country.