Industry News
How about joining the International Sightseeing Organisation?
Jacqueline Balian, GAMBICA,
jacqueline.balian@
gambica.org.uk
Last month, I attended an online meeting with some of the leading technical experts from major companies in the laboratory sector. They were representing organisations from across the globe and came together to work on key standards for the laboratory furniture sector which covers a huge range of things from fume cabinets to pipettes. Most of them were familiar faces - I had met them last year in Portugal, in a charming bar in Lisbon, after a hugely interesting meeting of the International Standards Organisation. That encounter proved extremely valuable, as I was able to obtain contact details for key fi nancial decision-makers within their organisations. These individuals are often diffi cult to reach, particularly when they are based outside the UK, even for UK entities. Others had their own reasons for being there. Some were there to learn, some to infl uence on behalf of their companies, others to make their commercial life a bit smoother, but by being there, all of them make life a bit easier for everyone.
One of the more disheartening topics discussed during last month’s meeting was the potential revocation of a key standard concerning the design and test methods for density hydrometers. Despite its widespread use across the laboratory industry, ISO 649 Parts 1 and 2 are currently under review. Unfortunately, there are insuffi cient experts from the requisite number of countries willing to participate in the revision process. If no-one can review it, the standard will be withdrawn. This poses a serious challenge for manufacturers of density hydrometers. What will they do without a standard to work to? Will this be another race to the bottom?
This issue is mirrored in UK standards development as well. The British Standards Institution (BSI) has recently approached GAMBICA for assistance in identifying experts in a number of specialisms, including the safety of laboratory centrifuges, furnaces, and refrigerators. If we are unable to recruit individuals to serve on the committees responsible for drafting and updating standards, it is inevitable that more standards will be withdrawn.
There is a common perception that standards work is time-consuming and yields no tangible return on investment. However, timely engagement in standards development can deliver substantial benefi ts to companies. One example is provided by UK autoclave manufacturers who collaborated to create a standard specifi cally for laboratory autoclaves, distinct from those used in hospitals. This initiative enabled them to avoid the need to meet unnecessarily stringent hospital standards, which have to be designed for higher-risk environments. As a result, manufacturers can now
produce autoclaves that are more cost-effective to manufacture and to purchase—a win for both producers and customers. Unexpectedly, the absence of a comparable European standard led many European buyers to adopt the new UK standard, resulting in a marked increase in UK autoclave exports to Europe.
In another case, a French manufacturer of fume cabinets attempted to introduce a series of costly type tests that would have severely disadvantaged competitors. Fortunately, timely intervention by the UK expert on the relevant committee successfully blocked these proposals.
By nominating a representative from your organisation, you gain a unique opportunity to shape the standards that govern your industry. You can infl uence the regulations that impact your business, network with fellow experts, and gain insight into emerging technical innovations. In terms of staying at the forefront of your fi eld, involving staff in standards development is unparalleled.
The International Sightseeing Organisation
The International Standards Organisation was once affectionately dubbed the ‘International Sightseeing Organisation’ by committee members, owing to its tendency to hold meetings in highly desirable locations. This certainly added an element of
LABMATE UK & IRELAND - NOVEMBER 2025
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