Mutual Recognition of Measurements: Its Potential Impact on International Trade in IVDs

Published

January 1, 2002

Author(s)

Hratch G. Semerjian, Ellyn S. Beary

Abstract

International agreements and decisions concerning global trade, the environment and health care increasingly call for mutual recognition of measurements and standards between nations. Such mutual recognition can remove technical barriers to trade, facilitate international trade, and provide the scientific bases for global environmental and health-related decision making. International trade is growning at a rate of 15% per year. To support this rate of growth, and to overcome the technical barriers that are supplanting tariff-based barriers to trade, the measurements performed by industrial manufacturers to characterize their products and enable conformity assessment must be globally recognized. Each nation must therefore ensure the quality and accuracy of its measurement system in order to promote mutual recognition in the world marketplace. Technology is a driving force of economic growth, especially in recent years. Advanced technologies such as microelectronics biotechnology, and nanotechnology require measurements of higher spatial resolution, sensitivity, and selectivity. In addition, the deregulation of many mature industries, such as natural gas and electricity calls for more-frequent and more -accurate measurements to help ensure equity in trade.

Citation

Workshop on Measurement Traceability for Clinical Laboratory Testing and In Vitro Diagnostic Test Systems

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

CIPM key comparisons, CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement, EU/US MRA, IVD directive, IVD industry, measurement and standards, metrology infrastructure, supplementary comparisons

Citation

Semerjian, H. and Beary, E. (2002), Mutual Recognition of Measurements: Its Potential Impact on International Trade in IVDs, Workshop on Measurement Traceability for Clinical Laboratory Testing and In Vitro Diagnostic Test Systems (Accessed January 12, 2025)