National Weights and Measures Laboratory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Weights and Measures Laboratory (or NWML) is an Executive Agency of UK Government that is responsible for ensuring that measurement within the UK is accurate, fair and legal.
More specifically, NWML is an Executive Agency of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and they are directly responsible to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, one of the department's ministerial team. The current Chief Executive of the Agency is Mr Peter Mason, appointed in 2007. Further information on NWML's CE appears below.
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[edit] History
The agency was created in 1987 from a reorganisation of the Standards Department when it moved from its previous location in central London to a new, purpose-built laboratory in Teddington which was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Kent on the 9th of April.
Until June 28, 2007 it was an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry.
[edit] Role
The NWML is part of the National Measurement System (NMS) which is the UK's national infrastructure of laboratories that are involved with the science and technology of measurement. Under the system, NWML carries out regular projects. These projects are funded by the NMS itself and form the majority of the NWML's work.
The agency is responsible for examining and approving new measuring instruments and equipment, that are to be used for trade, in order to establish their compliance with national legislation such as the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and relevant EU legislation. The NWML also makes available to manufacturers of such equipment a consultancy service, intended to be used throughout different stages of the equipment's development. They also provide calibration and testing services to local authorities and private industries as well as training in aspects of legal metrology.
[edit] About NWML's CE
Peter Mason joined NWML as CE in September 2007. He had already been a member of the NWML Steering Board for 3 years and so was well acquainted with NWML and the work carried out by the Agency. Prior to joining NWML he was Director of Finance Policy & Support at (the former) DTI for 4 years. Peter is well known in the field of consumer protection having been Director of Consumer Safety & Strategy, DTI, where he was responsible for leading the work on the 1999 Consumer Strategy White Paper and its implementation. He has held a variety of posts in DTI since 1973. Link to a press release on Peter's appointment to NWML
