SPRING 2021 NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS HMRC BRIEF 15 – THE POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR THE METROLOGY & TESTING INDUSTRY RISK BASED UKAS ASSESSMENTS THE APPLICATION OF FLEXIBLE SCOPES SOFT COBOTS FOR SEMI- AUTONOMOUS METROLOGYCONTENTS Page 2 – Editor’s Note Page 3 – Meet our Newsletter Contributors Page 4 – News Page 8 – The Impact of Import / Export Controls Between the UK and EU On Testing, Examination or Calibration By Laura Vallis, Editor, BMTA Newsletter Page 10 – HMRC Brief 15 and its Potential Impact for the Metrology and Testing Industry By David Hooper MBA, Managing Director of Hooper and Co International Trade Consultancy Ltd Page 13 – The Application of Flexible Scopes in Accreditation By Paul Greenwood, Operations Director, UKAS Page 14 – Soft Cobots for Semi-Autonomous Metrology: Towards Industry 5.0 By Professor Samia Nefti-Meziani Page 16 – Soil Analysis to Assess Soil Health and Contamination By Dr Elinor Hughes, Technical Copywriter at Markes International Page 20 – Risk Based UKAS Assessments By Jeff Ruddle, Strategic Development Director, UKAS Page 21 – Company Profile Autoscribe Informatics Page 22 – World Accreditation Day By Jeff Llewellyn, President, BMTA, and non-Executive Director, UKAS Page 24 – Council Member Profile Paul Greenwood, Operations Director, UKAS Welcome to the Spring issue of the BMTA Newsletter This Spring we cover the theme: agile practices in standards, testing, measurement and calibration. Jeff Ruddle’s article regarding the ISO/IEC 17011 revision discusses how more focus has been placed on accreditation bodies taking a risk-based approach to the planning and conduct of assessments. Paul Greenwood, also profiled in our new BMTA Council Member feature, takes a look at how flexible scopes of accreditation can provide a mechanism to allow accredited organisations to undertake new or modified activities. Professor Samia Nefti-Meziani explores robotics, soft cobots and cognitive automation and how they can offer an overarching approach towards a human-centred smart production environment. Jeff Llewellyn explores this year’s World Accreditation Day theme, which will highlight how accreditation and accredited conformity assessment activities can support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. While on the subject of sustainability, Dr Elinor Hughes tells us that despite reports that our soil health is under threat, it has been overlooked in UK environment policy in recent decades. Our member company profile features Autoscribe Informatics and its Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) solution, Matrix Gemini. Looking forward to our Summer issue, our focus theme is based on: • Education in the industry To help us provide our BMTA members with useful information we would like your help to: > identify and share relevant topics > provide research on new technologies or techniques > let us know industry news > promote events and training sessions > inform us of publications you think may be of interest to your fellow BMTA members. If you would like to contribute to the next issue of the BMTA Newsletter please contact editor@bmta.co.uk with a brief synopsis. Equally, should your business produce any information, white papers or interviews that you would like to share, please submit this to enquiries@bmta.co.uk. To subscribe visit: www.bmta.co.uk. EDITOR’S NOTE bmta.co.uk 2MEET OUR NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS bmta.co.uk Professor Samia Nefti-Meziani Co-Director EPSRC National Hub in Robotics and Future AI for Space Technology (FAIR-SPACE) David Hooper MBA Managing Director Hooper and Co International Trade Consultancy Ltd Professor Nefti-Meziani is an international leading expert with 25 years of experience and a well-established track record in hybrid robotics and intelligent automation. She has developed wider practical cross-sectorial technologies through numerous commercial and research projects, funded by EU, EPSRC, RE, Innovate UK, RGF and ERDF. She has pioneered their use in many sectors, including Food, Agriculture, Nuclear, Transport, Aerospace and Healthcare. More recently, she has led the development of the new multi-million pound (£16.6M) North of England Robotics Innovation Centre, co-funded by ERDF and Research England. This centre will act as a hub for researchers, engineers and SMEs to develop the UK’s intelligent automation and robotics industry. She is currently the Co-Director of the EPSRC National Hub in Robotics and Future AI for Space Technology (FAIR-SPACE). David is a Managing Director of Hooper and Co International Trade Consultancy Ltd, a company involved in providing training, consultancy and support to businesses involved in imports, exports and customs procedures. He is also Director of Independent Freight Solutions Ltd; a Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder based in Nuneaton Warwickshire. Elinor Hughes Technical Copywriter Markes International Elinor obtained her BSc in chemistry and PhD in organic chemistry at Bangor University. After working for a chemical manufacturing company for three years, she moved to the Royal Society of Chemistry where she worked in journals publishing for six years and on Chemistry World magazine for four years, followed by five years as a freelance copyeditor and science writer. Jeff Ruddle Strategic Development Director UKAS Dr Jeff Llewellyn President BMTA Jeff has worked in the conformity assessment sector since graduating with a chemistry degree from the University of Sheffield. Prior to joining UKAS he worked in environmental testing laboratories and reference material producers assisting the development and operation of their accredited activities. Jeff joined UKAS in 2005 as an Assessment Manager within the Industrial Chemistry section. Since then he has risen through the ranks holding several different roles at both Senior Management and Executive level, including seven years as UKAS’s Operations Director. A Chemist by profession, graduating from Swansea, Jeff obtained his PhD in Carbohydrate Chemistry in 1972. After two years post-doctoral research, he joined the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (now LGC) in 1973 where he worked for 10 years in food and environmental analysis. Jeff moved to the Department of the Environment with responsibility for Indoor Air Quality and Asbestos in Buildings, later joining the Building Research Establishment (now BRE Ltd) where he managed the Organic Materials Division and later the Centre for Environment and Health. He became Chief Executive of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML - now the National Measurement Office, NMO) in 2002, then an Executive Agency of DTI. He remained there until he retired from the Civil Service in August 2007. 3 Paul Greenwood Operations Director UKAS Paul Greenwood (CChem MRSC) joined UKAS in 2006 after a 13 year post-graduate career as a chemist in the fields of drinking water analysis, environmental testing and analytical instrument manufacture. In addition to oversight of the accreditation of around 1500 laboratories, he is a member of the UKAS Executive and responsible for ensuring strategic development and delivery of accreditation nationally and internationally.4 NEWS bmta.co.uk Contribute to our next newsletter We encourage our readers to send in press releases, announcements and opinion pieces on a wide range of technical, operational and commercial issues impacting any aspect of the UK measurement and testing industry. To provide the best possible coverage for you within the newsletter we ask that alongside the article, you provide a 50-100 word synopsis which we can use to highlight the article before publication via news feeds and the BMTA website. Feature articles are usually between 600-1500 words in length. In addition to this we would ask that you provide supporting images, at print ready resolution, together with a photo and short biography of the author. If you would like to contribute, please email Laura Vallis at editor@bmta.co.uk BMTA - the Voice of Measurement and Testing BMTA was created in 1990 in response to the need for an independent ‘lobby’ for the private sector to speak with one voice to Government, UKAS, BSI and other official bodies on issues affecting the whole measurement, testing and calibration community. We encourage you to make your views known in the standards making process, through your contribution to newsletters, participation in Association activities and membership of relevant BMTA and Standards Making committees. BMTA MEDIA PACK AND MARKETING RESOURCE CENTRE A new marketing resource has now been launched on the membership area on the BMTA website. Here, you can find BMTA marketing collateral to promote your BMTA membership via your website, email signatures, letterheads, marketing literature and social media. https://www.bmta.co.uk/bmta-media-pack.html Please also feel free to distribute this information to your Marketing and/or IT departments should you need their support in rolling this out across the organisation. IMEKO XXIII WORLD CONGRESS The IMEKO XXIII World congress (IMEKO2021) will be held August 30 - September 3, 2021, co-organised by the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) and The Society of Instrument and Control Engineers (SICE). IMEKO2021 will be held as the first online virtual conference to ensure the safety of participants, chairpersons, authors, conference delegates, sponsors and exhibitors. Online Virtual Conference All authors of an accepted paper are required to submit a presentation video before the conference. Conference participants will watch on-demand videos, read the papers and discuss with presenters via a chat system from August 30th to September 3rd on the website. All media will be available until the end of September 2021. Paper Submission and Registration All details are available on the IMEKO2021 website: http://www.imeko2021.org UKAS SURVEY - INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 4.0 UKAS has launched a survey to gain a better insight into the opportunities and challenges that IR4.0 could bring. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/UKASIR45 NEWS bmta.co.uk “Measurement science is a key enabler of innovation. Our common vision is to foster Europe’s world-leading metrology, based on high-quality science, and a fit-for-purpose and inclusive infrastructure. Further development is crucial to meet the rapidly advancing needs of stakeholders and society”, emphasises Hans Arne Frøystein, EURAMET Chairperson. “This will be underpinned by both the proposed European Partnership on Metrology and EURAMET’s new Strategy 2030.” “I am delighted to see that the Commission’s proposal reflects our previous discussions and suggestions. The proposal not only builds on the progress achieved under the European Metrology Research Programmes but also aims to break new ground by contributing to the development of self-sustaining, coordinated metrology infrastructures, with the capacity to continue research and innovation after 2030”, comments Duncan Jarvis, EURAMET General Secretary. Horizon Europe The European Commission’s ‘Horizon Europe’ puts forward an ambitious research and innovation programme, running from 2021 to 2027. A key implementation tool of Horizon Europe are European Partnerships, which are expected to ‘‘contribute significantly to achieving the European Union’s political priorities”, accelerating the transition towards a green, climate-neutral and digital Europe, making European industry more resilient and competitive. Partnerships will bring together the European Union, Member States and/or the industry in order to deliver on global challenges and modernise industry through collaborative research and innovation initiatives. The proposed European Partnership on Metrology The Partnership on Metrology aims to develop an effective, coordinated and self-sustaining measurement system for Europe by 2030. Reliable measurements are essential for innovation in economies and societies: metrology, the science of measurement, is vital for scientific research, trade and industry. New societal challenges and emerging technologies increase the need for accuracy, precision and novel measurement capabilities. As a building block for an industrialised and increasingly globalised and digital society, the proposal stresses the important role the metrological infrastructure will play in innovation and tackling some of Europe’s biggest challenges, from healthcare to climate change. Goals for the partnership include: • The establishment of sustainable European Metrology Networks in highly competitive and emerging areas, able to compete with the top global performers. The networks will have a strong focus on stakeholders and their needs and a significant role in the development of the strategic research and innovation agenda of the partnership. • The funding of joint research projects that increase and accelerate innovation using metrology solutions, capabilities and infrastructure; resulting in European turnover from new or significantly improved products and services. • Increasing and coordinating the role of metrology in the design and implementation of regulation and standardisation to foster evidence-based decision making and underpinning public policies. • Engagement with stakeholders along the metrology value chain to maximise uptake of emerging technologies and contribution to addressing major societal challenges. The expected impact of the Partnership on Metrology is manifold, as its objectives would support a wide range of European policies, commerce and public services. Background & next steps Following initial concepts for a range of Partnerships proposed by the Commission in 2019, EURAMET prepared a draft proposal detailing a European Partnership on Metrology to accelerate the global lead of Europe in metrology research. At the same time, the Commission conducted a formal impact assessment and public consultation to identify the best option for advancing metrology research and innovation at the European level. Member States were also asked to indicate their commitments to provide additional funding from the national budgets. As a result of these considerations, the EC has now published its proposal for a European Partnership on Metrology. EC PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP ON METROLOGY PUBLISHED EURAMET welcomes the Commission’s publication of its proposal for a European Partnership on Metrology under Horizon Europe. 6 Health Science Healthcare Science The next step in this development is a further round of validation for our GSEMs (guide standard exemplification materials) following some feedback from Ofqual and the Institute. The Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE) is now focusing on resource development and have paid opportunities available. Are you interested in converting content into teachable resources based on your knowledge and experience of the documentation? Although you do not need direct experience in resource development, an education-based experience or the ability to be creative and forward-thinking is essential. Training and support are offered. If you are keen to know more, please contact craig.wade@cache.org.uk MEASUREMENT FOR HEALTH May 20th is World Metrology Day, commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. This treaty provides the basis for a worldwide coherent measurement system that underpins scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, as well as the improvement of the quality of life and the protection of the global environment. The theme for World Metrology Day 2021 is Measurement for Health. This theme was chosen to create awareness of the important role measurement plays in health, and thus in the wellbeing of every one of us. Across the world, national metrology institutes continually advance measurement science by developing and validating new measurement techniques at the necessary level of sophistication. The national metrology institutes participate in measurement comparisons coordinated by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) to ensure the reliability of measurement results worldwide. The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) develops International Recommendations, which aim to align and harmonise requirements worldwide in many fields. The OIML also operates the OIML Certification System (OIML-CS) which facilitates international acceptance and global trade of regulated measuring instruments. NEWS bmta.co.uk METROLOGY T LEVELS MOVE ONE STEP CLOSER The specifications for Health and Science T Levels are now live and in the public domain. These international metrology systems provide the necessary assurance and confidence that measurements are accurate, providing a sound basis for global trade today and helping us to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. World Metrology Day recognises and celebrates the contribution of all the people that work in intergovernmental and national metrology organisations and institutes throughout the year. www.worldmetrologyday.org wmd@worldmetrologyday.org7 OPSS CALL FOR EVIDENCE ON THE UK PRODUCT SAFETY FRAMEWORK The Office for Product Safety and Standards’ (OPSS) Call for Evidence forms part of OPSS’ Review into the UK’s Product Safety framework. The objective of the Review is to ensure the Product Safety framework is simple, flexible, and fit for the future while delivering safety for all consumers. The Review also aims to ensure that the Product Safety framework keeps pace with new technologies and business models. It offers the opportunity to regulate standards in a way that suits the UK economy, capitalising on the new opportunities afforded by the UK’s deal with the EU. OPSS is keen to hear from those with experience or evidence, about how the product safety system is working and how it could be improved or simplified. The Call for Evidence opened on 11th March and will close on 3rd June. Responses should be submitted online using the dedicated online portal: https://beisgovuk. citizenspace.com/opss/productsafetyreview/. Where this is not feasible, responses can be emailed to productsafetyreview@beis.gov.uk. In order to assist BMTA in framing our own feedback and policy in this area please copy us in on your responses by emailing them to enquiries@bmta.co.uk with the title OPSS RESPONSE. TÜV SÜD NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY LAUNCHES UK’S FIRST DOMESTIC HYDROGEN METER CALIBRATION FACILITY TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory has launched the UK’s first traceable hydrogen flow calibration facility for domestic gas meters. NEWS bmta.co.uk The new facility will help meter manufacturers determine if existing meter stock and new technologies under development, are correctly measuring hydrogen flow rates. This is a crucial step to ensure that hydrogen gas meters deployed onto the market in the future will deliver accurate measurements for customer billing and taxation purposes. Marc MacDonald, Head of Clean Fuels at TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory, said: “Accurate measurement is an essential element to enable the decarbonisation of heat via the replacement of natural gas with hydrogen in the grid. From our involvement in EU hydrogen metrology projects, and our extensive experience as the UK institute responsible for National Flow Measurement Standards, it is clear that the change from natural gas to hydrogen can result in increased meter measurement errors. Our new hydrogen calibration facility will give manufacturers the independent assurance they need to prove that metering systems are suitable for their intended service.” Funded by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), through the National Measurement System mechanism, the new facility will initially support ongoing hydrogen feasibility and metrology research, including HyDeploy (a pioneering hydrogen energy project), the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR), and the UK Flow Programme. The research will be shared publicly so that the industry can make more informed choices about meter selection. Dr Lisa Cameron, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, opened the facility and said: “It is wonderful to be opening our UK-based world-leading facility that represents a vital step in ensuring hydrogen is a key pillar within a sustainable future. TÜV SÜD is signalling to the world that East Kilbride will be at the forefront of global efforts to explore hydrogen’s potential and the role it will undoubtedly play in combatting climate change at the forefront of our global goals for COP26 and beyond.” 8 bmta.co.uk THE IMPACT OF IMPORT / EXPORT CONTROLS BETWEEN THE UK AND EU ON TESTING, EXAMINATION OR CALIBRATION By Laura Vallis, Editor, BMTA Newsletter In response to member concerns, BMTA undertook a survey of accredited organisations to help understand the impact that the changes to the Import and Re-export of goods from the EU are having on Calibration, Measurement and Testing businesses. The survey found that of our survey’s respondents 73% temporarily import and re-export equipment into the UK for the purposes of Testing, Examination or Calibration. 8 The number of companies and the type of equipment that is affected covers a very wide range in terms of both value and volume. The impact of the changes to the import/re-export procedure is therefore widespread across the laboratory/test house sector. While some of the repercussions that companies are dealing with are likely to be temporary ones, such as transport delays which should ease once the border control issues are reconciled, there are other consequences that may not go away. Organisations are facing increased internal and external costs, VAT and duty liabilities. These costs and liabilities are unlikely to disappear any time soon, impacting businesses going forward. bmta.co.uk 9 Over 80% of companies have already seen a negative impact on their business. This is a significant proportion of the UK calibration test market, potentially impacting the UK’s capability to undertake domestic work, meaning they may well drop permanently out of this market or be forced to reduce their workforce. With Safety and Security declaration requirements coming later in 2021 the logistics situation is only going to get more complex with additional paperwork required on top of that already required. However, there still remains the challenge of how, when and where VAT and Duty on the temporary import and export of goods for Testing, Examination or Calibration is to be applied. For more information on this survey and the British Measurement and Testing Association please visit: https://www.bmta.co.uk/ or contact: Greg Ward, Company Secretary: enquiries@bmta.co.uk Why is VAT / Duty liability an issue? In October 2020 HMRC reaffirmed its position regarding import VAT and who is entitled to reclaim VAT paid on imports under current UK legislation. If you import goods to ‘process’ (testing, measurements, calibration, repair etc) them for financial gain, and you are not the owner of the goods, the notice suggests that only the owner of the asset is entitled to reclaim back the VAT or account for it using Postponed Vat Accounting (PVA). However, under HMRC authorised special procedures, non-UK goods can be imported for repair or processing whilst import duty and VAT is suspended. This is a new problem for companies that have already established a strong EU customer base. The advice that companies have received is varied and has been sourced from many different advisories. BMTA’s advisor suggests that the correct route is one of temporary import. It is becoming apparent that companies not using this option are at risk in regard to VAT/Duty liabilities. Next >