[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 145 (Friday, July 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 39120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19008]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
International Laboratory Accreditation Conference (ILAC) 1996
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The International Laboratory Accreditation Conference (ILAC)
will meet in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from September 9-13, 1996.
Those wishing to join the U.S. delegation or to participate in review
of the meeting agenda and related issues are invited to attend a pre-
conference meeting at the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) on August 23, 1996. ILAC, an informal organization
with representatives from approximately 45 nations and 12 international
organizations, aims to promote: (1) The development of national
programs for accrediting testing laboratories, (2) the employment of
harmonized accreditation criteria, and (3) the development of bilateral
or multilateral arrangements which would encourage importers to accept
the results of tests and data made by laboratories that have been
accredited under a laboratory accreditation program in exporting
nations.
DATES: The pre-conference meeting will be held Friday, August 23, 1996,
from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in conference room 152 at the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST North, 820 West
Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anyone wishing to attend these meetings or seeking additional
information should contact Dr. Belinda L. Collins, Director, Office of
Standards Services: by mail at the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, Building 820, Room 282, Gaithersburg, MD 20899; by
telephone at 301-975-4000 or by fax on 301-963-2871.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ILAC conferences have been held since 1977
to develop information about laboratory accreditation systems, to
provide a forum for discussing differences among such systems, to
describe basic principles and criteria for operating such systems, and
to develop bilateral or other arrangements which would establish mutual
recognition of such systems or of test reports issued by laboratories
accredited under such systems. These bilateral arrangements are
intended to minimize technical barriers to trade.
The U.S. delegation has to date been chaired by the Director of the
NIST Office of Standards Services. Those interested in serving with the
U.S. delegation, using their own financial resources for registration
fees, hotel accommodations, food, and travel expenses, can do so by
registering with the Registration Secretariat, CAOS. Delegates should
have a background in standards development, laboratory accreditation,
produce testing or product certification activities. Conference
registration materials are available from NIST.
Notice is given that the U.S. delegation at its August 23 meeting
will review documents distributed in advance of the ILAC meeting to be
held in Amsterdam during September 13-19, 1996. All persons planning to
attend ILAC meeting, as well as those interested in the meeting but
unable to attend, are invited to participate in this pre-conference
meeting. At the meeting the agenda will be reviewed, along with
committee reports and issues and recommendations to be considered at
the plenary meeting. U.S. delegation consensus positions will be
developed as appropriate.
Dated: July 19, 1996.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 96-19008 Filed 7-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M
