Authoritative interpretation of the "National Metrology Technical Specification Management Measures"

On March 8, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation promulgated Order No. 89 of the "Measures for the Administration of National Metrology Technical Specifications", which will come into force on May 1, 2024. The relevant situation is interpreted as follows.

Question 1: What is the definition and scope of the national metrology technical specifications?

Answer: The measurement technical specification is a technical rule to ensure the unity of the national measurement unit system and the accuracy and reliability of the measurement value, and is a code of conduct to standardize the measurement technical activities, and plays an important technical foundation role in the measurement activities in the fields of scientific research, legal measurement management, and industrial production. The National Metrology Technical Specification is a measurement technical specification formulated and approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation and implemented nationwide.

With the development of metrology activities, the current national metrology technical specification system in mainland China includes not only the national metrology verification system table and the national metrology verification regulations, but also the national measuring instrument type evaluation outline, the national metrology calibration specification and other new types of metrology technical specifications gradually formed with the development of metrology science and technology and its application and the evolution of measurement activities, such as the terms and definitions of measurement terms in various fields, the evaluation and expression requirements of measurement uncertainty, and the rules (rules, guidelines, and general requirements) that regulate measurement activities. Measurement methods (procedures), technical requirements for standard reference data, algorithm traceability technical methods, measurement comparison methods, etc.

Question 2: How is the technical specification of metrology in China composed?

Answer: Metrology technical specifications provide rules to follow for metrological verification, calibration, comparison, type evaluation and other metrological technical activities, and support legal metrology management and economic and social development. From a formal point of view, the measurement technical specifications include the measurement verification system table, the measurement verification procedures, the type evaluation outline of measuring instruments, the measurement calibration specifications and other measurement technical specifications. From a hierarchical point of view, there are national, departmental, industrial and local (regional) measurement technical specifications. As of the end of February 2024, there are 2,030 national metrology technical specifications in mainland China, including 95 items of the national metrology verification system table, 824 items of the national metrology verification regulations, 148 items of the type evaluation outline of measuring instruments, 828 items of the national metrology and calibration specifications and 135 items of other metrology technical specifications. The issuance and implementation of these national measurement technical specifications play an important role in ensuring the unity of measurement units and the accuracy and reliability of measurement values.

Question 3: What is the purpose of the introduction of the "National Measures for the Management of Metrology Technical Specifications"?

Answer: The "Measures for the Management of National Metrological Verification Regulations" provides a basis for the management of the national metrological verification system table and the national metrological verification regulations. The promulgation of the "Measures for the Management of National Metrology Technical Specifications" will further clarify the definition and scope of national metrology technical specifications, standardize the whole life cycle management of national metrology technical specifications, and continuously improve the national metrology technical specifications management system, so as to provide strong measurement support for high-quality economic and social development.

Question 4: What are the main changes in the newly revised "Measures for the Management of National Metrology Technical Specifications" and the original "Measures for the Management of National Metrology Verification Regulations"?

Answer: The "Measures for the Management of National Metrological Technical Specifications" are mainly revised in the following aspects: First, the "Measures for the Management of National Metrological Verification Regulations" is renamed as "Measures for the Management of National Metrological Technical Specifications". The second is to further clarify the work requirements of the national metrology technical specifications at all stages of project establishment, formulation, approval and release, implementation and supervision and management. The third is to clearly formulate national measurement technical specifications, except for the projects that really need to be confidential, the whole process should be open and transparent, and widely solicit opinions from all parties. Fourth, actively promote the adoption of the international metrology norms issued by the International Legal Metrology Organization (OIML) and the international technical documents issued by relevant international organizations, so as to better integrate with international standards and promote domestic and international dual circulation. Fifth, it is clear that the State Administration for Market Regulation shall organize the establishment of a technical committee to undertake the project evaluation, organization drafting, soliciting opinions, technical approval, implementation effect evaluation, review and publicity and implementation of national measurement technical specifications. Sixth, it is clear that departments, industries, and local measurement technical specifications are implemented with reference to these measures.

Question 5: What role does the National Professional Metrology Technical Committee play in supporting the national metrology management?

Answer: The National Professional Metrology Technical Committee is a technical unincorporated organization approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation, which is responsible for formulating national metrology technical specifications, providing measurement technology policy consultation, carrying out academic seminars and exchanges, and carrying out measurement science popularization and knowledge dissemination. As of the end of February 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation has approved the establishment of a total of 43 technical committees and 21 sub-technical committees, which are divided into two categories: comprehensive basic committees and professional committees. After long-term efforts, the technical committee plays an important role in improving the traceability of quantity transmission, serving and supporting measurement management, promoting scientific and technological progress, and promoting industrial development and quality improvement.

Question 6: How to better play the role of national measurement technical specifications in supporting and guaranteeing industrial innovation and development?

Answer: The national measurement technical specification involves a wide range of specialties and many industrial fields, which is a work that requires the participation of multiple parties in the industrial chain and is open. In view of the current situation of "unmeasurable, incomplete and inaccurate" in the process of industrial development, focusing on the problems of lagging industrial measurement and testing technology and lack of measurement and testing methods, in recent years, the State Administration for Market Regulation has organized the National Industrial Metrology and Testing Center to continuously strengthen the formulation and revision of relevant measurement technical specifications, and has accumulated certain achievements and experience. The revision increases the provisions that the State Administration for Market Regulation can designate relevant national industrial metrology and testing centers, national professional metrology stations and other institutions to undertake the relevant work of the formulation of national metrology technical specifications, and further opens up the channels for formulating industry-specific national metrology technical specifications. The general methods and specifications of the industry can be used for reference to better meet the urgent needs of industrial testing, promote the sharing, promotion and application of relevant measurement results, and give full play to the supporting and guaranteeing role of measurement technical specifications in industrial innovation and development.

Question 7: How to quickly and easily access the digital text of the national metrology technical specifications?

Answer: Log in http://jjg.spc.org.cn/ and enter the full-text disclosure system of the national measurement technical specifications, and you can query the text of the national measurement technical specifications. The national metrological verification regulations and the national metrological verification system table can be downloaded, and other national metrology technical specifications can be consulted online.

Measures for the management of national measurement technical specifications

(Decree No. 89 of the State Administration for Market Regulation on March 8, 2024, effective as of May 1, 2024)

Chapter I: General Provisions

Article 1 In order to strengthen the management of national measurement technical specifications, to ensure the unity of the national measurement unit system and the accuracy and reliability of the value, in accordance with the People's Republic of China Metrology Law and other relevant laws and administrative regulations, these measures are formulated.

Article 2 of the national measurement technical specifications of the project, formulation, approval of the release, implementation and supervision and management, these measures shall apply.

Article 3 The term "national metrology technical specifications" in these measures refers to the measurement technical specifications formulated and approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation (hereinafter referred to as the State Administration for Market Regulation) and implemented nationwide, including the national metrology verification system table, the national metrology verification regulations, the national measuring instrument type evaluation outline, the national metrology calibration specifications and other national metrology technical specifications.

Article 4 The State Administration for Market Regulation shall manage the national measurement technical specifications in a unified manner, and shall be responsible for the establishment, organization and formulation, approval and release, organization and implementation of the national measurement technical specifications, as well as supervision and management.

Article 5 The formulation of national measurement technical specifications shall be conducive to improving the ability of value transmission and traceability, supporting measurement management, promoting scientific and technological innovation, promoting industrial development, facilitating economic and trade exchanges, and implementing national strategies.

Article 6 The formulation of national measurement technical specifications shall comply with the provisions of relevant national laws, administrative regulations and departmental rules, and shall have a clear scope of application, scientific and reasonable requirements, and take into account the feasibility of operation and the economy of implementation;

Article 7 Actively promote the adoption of the international metrology norms issued by the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) and the international technical documents issued by relevant international organizations. The adoption of international measurement technical specifications should comply with relevant national laws and regulations, and adhere to the principle of combining national conditions and paying attention to practical results.

Article 8 The State Administration for Market Regulation shall organize the establishment of a national professional metrology technical committee and sub-technical committee (hereinafter referred to as the technical committee) to undertake the project evaluation, organization drafting, soliciting opinions, technical approval, implementation effect evaluation, review and publicity and implementation of the national metrology technical specifications, and undertake the interpretation of the national metrology technical specifications.

The State Administration for Market Regulation may, on the basis of the needs of its work, designate relevant national industrial metrology and testing centers, national professional metrology stations and other institutions to undertake the relevant work provided for in the preceding paragraph. When necessary, the State Administration for Market Regulation can directly organize the drafting of national measurement technical specifications.

Article 9 The departments, industries and local metrology technical specifications that are advanced and leading, have good implementation effects, and need to be promoted and implemented nationwide, can be approved and issued in the form of national metrology technical specifications after being approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

Article 10 The State Administration for Market Regulation enjoys the copyright of the national measurement technical specifications in accordance with law.

Chapter II National Metrology Technical Specifications for Project Approval

Article 11 The State Administration for Market Regulation openly solicits proposals for the establishment of national measurement technical specifications from the public. Units and individuals can be based on the needs of economic and social development and the legal management of measurement, to the relevant technical committee to put forward the proposal of the national measurement technical specifications, or directly to the State Administration of Market Regulation.

The project proposal shall include the necessity, feasibility, scope of application and compatibility with the current national metrology technical specifications.

Article 12 The relevant technical committee shall evaluate the project proposals. Where it is found to be suitable for initiating a project after assessment, an application for initiation shall be submitted to the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The project application materials shall include the project declaration form and the draft national metrology technical specifications.

The project application shall include the necessity and feasibility of formulating national measurement technical specifications, the current situation and development trend of domestic and foreign technical specifications, the consistency analysis with relevant international technical documents, key technical requirements or main contents, implementation conditions, schedules, expected economic and social benefits, etc.

Article 13: Where there are major differences between the relevant technical committees on the project proposals, the State Administration for Market Regulation shall submit opinions on the handling of the dispute.

Article 14: Where the State Administration for Market Regulation decides to initiate a project, it shall issue a project plan to the relevant technical committee.

Article 15 In the process of implementing the project plan, if it is found that it is no longer suitable to formulate the national measurement technical specifications, it shall be revoked;

Article 16: Revocation, supplementation, and adjustment of project plans shall be proposed by the relevant technical committees and implemented after approval by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

If the project plan is not approved, the relevant technical committee shall implement it in accordance with the original approved plan.

Chapter III Formulation of National Metrology Technical Specifications

Article 17 The technical committee shall, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the state, organize the drafting unit to implement the project plan.

The drafting unit is responsible for the investigation and research, test verification, preparation and solicitation of opinions on the drafting of national metrology technical specifications.

The drafting unit shall be professional and broadly representative.

Article 18 The formulation of national metrology technical specifications shall be in accordance with the requirements of the preparation rules, on the basis of investigation and research, test verification, drafting of national metrology technical specifications for comments, preparation instructions and other relevant materials.

When formulating verification procedures, calibration specifications and type evaluation outlines, other relevant materials mainly include:

(1) Test report. For the technical requirements stipulated in the national metrology technical specifications, the objects within the scope of application shall be tested with the specified experimental conditions and experimental methods, and the scientific rationality and feasibility shall be proved by the test data.

(2) Measurement uncertainty assessment report. The measurement uncertainty assessment method should be used to analyze the scientific rationality of the specified technical requirements, experimental conditions and experimental methods.

(3) If relevant international technical documents need to be adopted, the original language and Chinese translation shall be provided.

Article 19 The draft of the national metrology technical specifications and the preparation instructions shall be open to the public for comments, and to the relevant departments, enterprises and institutions, scientific research institutions, social organizations and other relevant parties involved to solicit opinions.

The period for soliciting public comments must not be less than 30 days.

Article 20: The drafting unit shall handle the solicited opinions and form a summary table for soliciting comments. After the draft for comments is revised and improved, a draft of the national metrology technical specification shall be formed and submitted to the relevant technical committee.

Article 21 The technical committee shall, in accordance with the working procedures stipulated in the charter of the National Professional Metrology Technical Committee, review and approve the draft of the national metrology technical specifications. The Technical Committee shall examine and approve the following:

(1) Whether it complies with the provisions of relevant national laws, administrative regulations, and departmental rules;

(2) Compatibility with relevant international technical documents, national metrology technical specifications and national standards;

(3) The scientificity, advancement, rationality and operability of the main technical content;

(D) the normative and rigorous nature of the text of the national measurement technical specifications;

(5) The scientific reasonableness of the test report and the measurement uncertainty assessment report;

(6) Whether it complies with the provisions of fair competition;

(7) The adoption of opinions and the outcome of the handling of major divergent opinions.

Article 22 The draft of the national metrology technical specification shall be approved by more than three-quarters of the members of the technical committee. Drafters do not vote.

The approval of the national measurement technical specifications shall form a validation opinion, and signed by all members participating in the validation. The approval opinion shall include the form, time, place, list of participating members, and the approval opinions and conclusions of the technical specifications.

Article 23 The drafting unit shall organize and form a draft for approval and relevant approval materials according to the approval opinions, and submit it to the State Administration for Market Regulation after being reviewed and approved by the technical committee. Relevant materials for approval include:

(A) the national measurement technical specifications for approval;

(B) the national measurement technical specifications for approval form;

(3) Prepare instructions;

(4) A summary table for soliciting comments;

(5) Approval opinions;

(6) Other relevant materials.

If the application materials for approval need to provide test reports, measurement uncertainty assessment reports, and original and Chinese translations of relevant international technical documents, they shall also be provided in accordance with relevant requirements.

Article 24 The period from the date of issuance of the project plan to the submission of materials for approval shall not exceed 24 months. If it cannot be submitted within the time limit specified in the project plan, it shall apply to the State Administration for Market Regulation for an extension 30 days in advance, and the extension period shall not exceed 12 months.

If the project plan cannot be continued, the technical committee shall report to the State Administration for Market Regulation for approval and terminate the national measurement technical specification project.

Chapter IV Approval and Issuance of National Metrology Technical Specifications

Article 25 The State Administration for Market Regulation shall review the materials submitted for approval of the national metrology technical specifications, and may entrust relevant institutions to conduct the review when necessary. If the review is passed, the State Administration for Market Regulation shall uniformly number it and publish it in the form of an announcement.

Article 26 The numbering of the national metrology technical specifications is composed of a code, a sequence number and a year of issue.

The code "JJG" is used for the national metrology verification regulations and the national metrology verification system table, and the code "JJF" is used for the national metrology and calibration specifications, the national measuring instrument type evaluation outline and other national metrology technical specifications.

Article 27 The data formed in the process of formulating national measurement technical specifications shall be archived by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the relevant technical committees.

Article 28 After the national metrology technical specifications are approved and published, they shall be published by a publishing institution entrusted by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The State Administration for Market Regulation shall disclose the digital text of the national measurement technical specifications in accordance with relevant provisions.

The national metrology technical specifications that need to be translated into foreign languages shall be translated and approved by the relevant technical committees; if they need to be published, they shall be approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation and published by the entrusted publishing institution.

Chapter V implementation and supervision and management of national measurement technical specifications

Article 29 A reasonable transition period shall be set between the issuance and implementation of the national measurement technical specifications.

Article 30 After the issuance of the national metrology technical specifications, the State Administration for Market Regulation shall organize the technical committee to carry out the publicity, implementation and promotion of the national metrology technical specifications. Encourage market supervision and management departments at all levels, relevant government departments, industry associations, and measurement technology institutions to carry out publicity and promotion of national measurement technical specifications in various forms.

Article 31 Market supervision and administration departments at all levels, relevant government departments, industry associations, measurement technical institutions and technical committees are encouraged to collect information on the implementation of relevant national measurement technical specifications in their daily work;

Encourage the public to feedback the problems and suggestions arising from the implementation of the national measurement technical specifications through the portal website of the State Administration for Market Regulation and other channels.

Article 32 The State Administration for Market Regulation shall establish a mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness of the implementation of national metrology technical specifications, and regularly organize and carry out the evaluation of the implementation effects of national metrology technical specifications in key areas. The evaluation of the implementation effect of the national metrology technical specifications mainly includes the applicability, coordination, technical level, structural content, application status, implementation effectiveness and problems of the technical specifications.

Article 33 The State Administration for Market Regulation entrusts the Technical Committee to carry out the review of the national measurement technical specifications. The technical committee shall, on the basis of the review situation, put forward a conclusion that it will continue to be valid, revised or repealed, and report it to the State Administration for Market Regulation. The review period is generally not more than five years.

The technical committees shall pay close attention to major international and domestic changes that may affect the legitimacy and scientificity of the national measurement technical specifications, or the economic, social and scientific and technological development that leads to the inapplicability of all or part of the provisions of the existing national measurement technical specifications, and submit review suggestions to the State Administration for Market Regulation in a timely manner after research and judgment.

Article 34 After the review, the national measurement technical specifications shall be dealt with in accordance with the following circumstances:

(1) For the national measurement technical specifications that do not need to be revised, confirm that they continue to be valid, and the relevant technical committee shall fill in the review opinion form and submit it to the State Administration for Market Regulation for approval.

(2) For the national measurement technical specifications that need to be revised, the relevant technical committees shall fill in the review opinion form and submit it to the State Administration for Market Regulation for approval, and include it in the plan as a revised project;

(3) For the national measurement technical specifications that no longer meet the relevant national laws and regulations or the needs of economic and social development, the relevant technical committee shall fill in the review opinion form, put forward a proposal for repeal, and submit it to the State Administration for Market Regulation for approval. The State Administration for Market Regulation shall solicit opinions from the public for the proposed repealing of the national measurement technical specifications, and the period for soliciting opinions shall not be less than 30 days.

Article 35 The catalogue of national metrology technical specifications that are confirmed to be valid or approved to be abolished after review shall be issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation in the form of announcements.

Article 36 After the issuance of the national metrology technical specifications, if individual technical requirements need to be adjusted, supplemented or deleted, they can be modified through the modification sheet. The drafting unit shall fill in the declaration form for the revision of the national metrology technical specifications, which shall be reviewed and approved by the relevant technical committees, submitted to the State Administration for Market Regulation for approval, and issued in the form of an announcement. The revision sheet of the national measurement technical specification has the same effect as the text of the technical specification.

Chapter VI: Supplementary Provisions

Article 37 No unit or individual shall arbitrarily alter the national measurement technical specifications without the approval of the State Administration for Market Regulation. Where the provisions of these Measures are violated, the directly responsible person shall be dealt with in accordance with laws and regulations.

Article 38 Departments, industries and local measurement technical specifications shall be implemented with reference to these measures.

Article 39: These Measures take effect on May 1, 2024. On December 31, 2002, the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China promulgated the "Measures for the Management of National Metrology Verification Regulations" promulgated No. 36 at the same time.