Technical Assistance II
In today's global trade environment, reference materials play a vital role. These standard substances, with known properties, are essential for ensuring accurate and reliable test results. They provide a consistent benchmark, ensuring testing procedures and standards are aligned across regions and industries. For businesses, reference materials are crucial for verifying product quality and safety, helping them access new markets confidently. Additionally, in research and development settings, they are instrumental in validating new products and improving processes.
Given the pivotal role of reference materials in international commerce, there is a burgeoning market potential for these reference materials within the testing industry. As global trade continues to grow, the demand for these materials is on the rise, with sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and environmental monitoring leading the way.
However, the development of Reference Material Providers (RMPs) in Indonesia has progressed at a slow pace. While the National Accreditation Committee (KAN) introduced an accreditation scheme for RMPs in 2014, only three laboratories have stepped forward to register as Reference Materials Providers. Recognising this gap, the National Standardisation Agency, in partnership with ARISE+ Indonesia, conducted an RMP Webinar on 30 September 2023, bringing together more than 100 public and private laboratories. The primary goal of this webinar was to amplify awareness regarding the significance of reference materials and to enlighten laboratories about the vast potential within the RMP sector.
In his address, the National Standardization Agency's (BSN) Principal Secretary and the Acting Deputy for Accreditation, Mr Donny Purnomo, expressed his hope that the webinar would inspire more laboratories to consider registering as RMPs.
"Reference Materials are pivotal components of both the Export Quality Infrastructure and the National Quality Assurance System in Indonesia," Mr Donny emphasised.
He further noted that Indonesia has a pressing need for more reference material producers who can offer comparative test references, internal quality control, and external quality control.
"This is not just about ensuring test accuracy but also about asserting our national sovereignty. Obtaining certain reference materials can often be challenging due to export/import restrictions," Mr Donny added.
During the webinar, the Director of System and Accreditation Harmonization, Sugeng Raharjo, and ARISE+ Indonesia Reference Material Senior Expert, Dr. Angelique Botha, took on the roles of presenters. Mr Sugeng shed light on the preparation required to become a Reference Material Producer (RMP) and discussed the current state of RMPs. On the other hand, Dr Botha provided insights into global statistics concerning RMPs and highlighted new standards pertaining to the production and utilisation of reference materials.
One of the participants, Annisa, a Laboratory Manager at a private coal sector laboratory, found the content of the webinar to be truly invaluable. She expressed profound gratitude for the insights garnered from the RMP session.
"The insights from the RMP webinar were enlightening. The knowledge we acquired is instrumental in making better selections of reference materials, including for our sector," said Annisa.
This webinar will subsequently be accompanied by a series of RMP QMS trainings based on ISO 17034 standards and will conclude with a business networking session.
