ILAC News 38

Accreditation UpdateWorld Accreditation Day celebrations in MexicoFrom 7 to 10June, emaconducted the thirdweek of celebrationof Accreditation, incommemoration of9 June: World Dayfor Accreditation.On this occasion, 7 June was devoted toclinical laboratories and testing, and 8 Juneto calibration laboratories.The 50 participants involved in the medicallaboratory meetings had the opportunity tolearn about international developments inthis field. The National Metrology Center(CENAM), also explained the documentationof metrological traceability of clinicallaboratory measurements.About 250 people attended the testinglaboratory meetings and 90 attended thecalibration laboratory meetings. In thesesessions, officials from the DirectorateGeneral of Standards of the Ministry ofEconomy, National Water Commission(CONAGUA) and Ministry of Labor andSocial Welfare (STPS) discussed theimportance of technically competent andreliable conformity assessment agenciesin supporting compliance with the rulesto safeguard our security, health andenvironment.Also on 8 June, conferences for stafffrom certification bodies were attendedby 60 participants. These participantshad the opportunity to learn about thesustainable forests certification, the genderequity standard and appellations of originprograms.Inspection bodies were the focus for the 10June. With 140 people in attendance, theseconferences were addressed by authoritiesfrom the Ministry of Labor and Social(STPS); Secretariat of Communicationsand Transports (SCT); and Ministry ofAgriculture, Livestock, Rural Development,Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), on theexisting verification programs in each oftheir areas.For the third time on 9 June, in severalcountries, World Accreditation Day wascelebrated with joy, and Mexico was noexception! The community who makeup the Mexican System of Metrology,Standardization and Conformity Assessment,gathered to commemorate this importantdate and address issues of interestsurrounding accreditation.This year we had major figures participatingas members of the presidium for the openingceremony and sharing their messages andgreetings on this special day:We were privileged to have one of thehighest authorities of the environmentin Mexico, Mr Sandra Denisse HerreraFlores, Undersecretary of Promotion andRegulations of the Ministry of Environmentand Natural Resources;We were accompanied by Dr FranciscoRamos, General Director of Standards of theMinistry of Economy;And we were honored with the participationof Mr Jorge Remedi, representative of theAccreditation Body of Argentina, OAA.To inaugurate the work of our Day, IngSalomón Presburger, President of theConfederation of Industrial Chambers ofthe United Mexican States (CONCAMIN)honored us with his presence, and reiteratedthe need to strengthen SISMENEC, statingthat “this is one of the priorities of theplans and strategies for the development ofMexican society and economy. “The central theme for this year was“Global Acceptance” and to address it threeworkshops were conducted:• Mutual Recognition Agreements, MRA;• Policies and Procedures of ConformityAssessment; and• Accreditation and Approval Difference.We thank all those who made possible thecelebration of our World AccreditationDay.24 Issue 38 | October 2010