[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