CECIP Newsletter Q1 2023
CECIP Newsletter Q1 2023
One more month until the ICW
The first edition of the International Conference of Weighing is only one more month away. The preparations are being finalised and the final programme including all the titles of the presentations is being available here. We’re convinced this is a very interesting programme for everyone in the weighing sector with parallel tracks on scientific, legal and applied metrology. There will be outstanding speakers such as senior leaders from the weighing industry and metrology institutes and key experts in the area of digitalisation.
The number of registrations is going well and we still plan to reach around 200 participants of the conference including many authorities and participants from outside Europe. This makes it a great opportunity to meet persons from outside your normal network. All weighing stakeholders can still register for the conference here. Even though there is no closing date of the registrations it is recommended to register by Wednesday 19 April the latest.
Weighing you can trust campaign comes to an end
Users and buyers of weighing instruments are not always aware of the importance of different quality aspects of weighing instrument. To create this awareness, CECIP launched the ‘Weighing you can trust’ campaign which is now coming to an end. This campaign build on the previous ‘World with Weighing’ campaign.
During the last six months articles, social media posts and a dedicated campaign website were published to highlight different quality aspects. The different messages included a wide range of examples where quality weighing aspects such as speed, accuracy, reliability and connectivity had an impact various sectors. Overall, the campaign encouraged weighing instruments users and buyers to find the right partner for their weighing needs. It explained how certain quality aspects of weighing instruments could impact businesses.
With many positive reactions, around 900,000 impressions on social media the campaign is considered a success. Even though the official campaign is over, the campaign website (www.worldwithweighing.com) will remain available for everyone interested to learn about the importance of quality weighing. Considering the success of the campaign similar companies are expected to follow in the future.
CECIP Vision on metrological control in the future
CECIP is convinced that there are several aspects where the metrological control legal framework needs to change to make it ready for the medium and long term future, particularly in the area of reverifications. The current legal framework evolved in the last decades taking into account developments such as digitalisation and the European Single Market, making it only logical if this legal framework continues to develop further.
Changes can make the system more efficient and effective by reducing costs, limiting double tests and improving the service level for users. At the same time the legal framework can still guarantee at least the same quality. Potential improvements will be beneficial for the manufacturers, service providers, users and consumers.
CECIP prepared its vision on the metrological control in the future that aims at describing the areas of metrological control where the system may be improved and it gives proposals from the European weighing industry on the best solutions in these areas. CECIP hopes this will contribute to discussion on the future system and encourages Member States to keep these points in mind when making changes to relevant legislation.
It includes suggestions in the following areas:
- Harmonisation of the reverification system
- Reverifications with partly remote tests
- A risk based approach of reverifications
- European weighing instrument database
- Taking into account new business models
- Effective market surveillance
- Independent reverifications
The full vision on the metrological control of the future can be found here.
CECIP welcome start of NAWID/MID evaluation study
The long anticipated study that will evaluate the Directive 2014/31/EU on non-automatic weighing instruments and Directive 2014/32/EU on measuring instruments started earlier this year. CECIP welcomes this evaluations as it believes that even though the legislation is generally fit for its purpose updates are needed to make it ready for digital developments and improve the current requirements. In particular CECIP believes improvements are possible on the following topics:
- Creating more clarity (e.g. on the role of PoS)
- Increase harmonisation of reverifications
- Make requirements ready for the digital age (e.g. remove the obligation for a printed ticket)
- Increase the scope of the legislation (e.g. with weighing in motion systems)
- More opportunities for digital documents
- Emphasize trust in notified bodies
A consortium of consultants is contracted by the European Commission to carry with the study which should until approximately the summer of next year. As part of the study there will be a public consultation and targeted consultations with stakeholders where CECIP will provide input.