In addition to the OIML Basic Certificate System, the OIML has developed a Mutual Acceptance Arrangement (MAA) which is related to OIML Type Evaluations. This Arrangement - and its framework - are defined in OIML B 10-1 (Edition 2004) and its amendment (2006), and B 10-2 (2004).

The OIML MAA is an additional tool to the OIML Basic Certificate System in particular to increase the existing mutual confidence through the System. It is still a voluntary system but with the following specific aspects:

• Increase in confidence by setting up an evaluation of the Testing Laboratories involved in type testing - this evaluation is based on the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 and may be carried out either by accreditation or by peer assessments;
• Assistance to Member States who do not have their own test facilities and the possibility for national legal metrology bodies to be able to rely on the facilities and competences of other countries' bodies, especially in cases where they do not themselves possess such facilities at national level;
• Possibility to take into account (in a Declaration of Mutual Confidence, or DoMC) additional national requirements (to those of the relevant OIML Recommendation).

The aim of the MAA is for the participants to accept and utilize MAA Evaluation Reports validated by an OIML MAA Certificate of Conformity. To this end, participants in the MAA are either Issuing Participants or Utilizing Participants.

For manufacturers, it avoids duplication of tests for type approval in different countries and gives them the knowledge, at the beginning of the evaluation process, of the additional requirements requested in the various countries in which they will apply for type approval.

Participants (Issuing and Utilizing) declare their participation by signing a Declaration of Mutual Confidence (Signed DoMCs).

Current situation

Three Declarations of Mutual Confidence were signed at the beginning of the MAA implementation: Load cells (R 60), Nonautomatic weighing instruments (R 76) and water meters (R 49).

These DoMCs have been revised several times, in particular to include new participants, to change the status of participation (Issuing Participant or Utilizing Participant) of various participants, and to update the scope.

Currently, the three DoMCs together include 22 participating countries, of which 11 are Issuing Participants.

R 51 DoMC

A fourth DoMC was launched in July 2009 for automatic catchweighing instruments on the basis of OIML R 51. Two potential Issuing Participants applied to participate but finally decided to put their candidacies on hold considering the low number of Utilizing Participants. Consequently, since there are no longer any potential participants, the BIML had to put the R 51 DoMC process on hold.

R 117 DoMC

The R 117 DoMC for fuel dispensers on the basis of OIML R117-1:2007 and OIML R 118:1995 should be the next one to be launched, as approved by the CIML at its 44th Meeting in Kenya. However, the BIML has again decided to postpone launching this DoMC for a few months, notably for BIML staff resource reasons.

Maintenance process of the existing DoMCs

The fourth R 60/R 76 CPR meeting held in Switzerland on 19 June 2009 allowed the intermediate documentary assessment of Issuing Participants in the R 60 and R 76 DoMCs to be completed. The next step is the renewal of the R 60 and R 76 DoMCs, which was launched in June. The deadline has been fixed at September 2011 to complete the process.

The intermediate documentary assessment process of Testing Laboratories of Issuing Participants in the R 49 DoMC was launched in September 2009. The process was to be completed by the end of May 2010 but unfortunately this was not possible. Consequently, the BIML suggests skipping the first intermediate documentary assessment and proceeding directly to the first renewal of the R 49 DoMC.

Revision of OIML B 3 and B 10 - Update

The second Committee Draft (2CD) of the revision of OIML B 3 and the first Committee Draft (1CD) of the revision of OIML B 10-1 were circulated in December among TC 3/SC 5 Members. The synthesis of the comments received together with the Secretariat's replies are available on the OIML TC 3/SC 5 Workgroup. Those comments identified as being critical will be discussed at the TC 3/SC 5 meeting to be held on 4-5 October 2010 in Paris.

The conditions to be defined to take into account within the MAA test results from manufacturers' testing laboratories (MTLs) under the controlled supervision of Issuing Participants, will also be discussed at this meeting.