News GOVERNMENT
NELAC finishes first phase
"Right now we have decoupled the GLP program from the NELAC timeline." Adoption of the standards set by the national program is voluntary; therefore, U.S. states and territories have the option of participating in NEIAC. Not all U.S. states are expected to join. An informal survey was conducted just before the July meeting to determine which states were interested in having NELAC recognize their laboratory certification programs as accrediting authorities. Of a total of 56 responses, 40 programs said they intend on applying for recognition by NELAC. The application process is expected to begin this month, and the first of a series of stepwise approvals is expected by June 1 1998. States choosing to accept the NELAC standards will benefit from reciprocity among the other states that join, says Mourrain. If all goes as planned, accreditation by one state that is recognized by NELAC as an accrediting authority will ensure accreditation in all states that are recognized. This policy will be particularly beneficial for environmental testing labs that operate in multiple states, which traditionally required multiple accreditations at great costs to the laboratories. In addi-
Thefinalset of standards proposed by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) was approved by delegates at the third annual meeting, held in July, in Dallas. With the passage of the standards, NELAC moves into its implementation stage. NELAC was created to unify the standards and procedures used for accreditation of U.S. commercial and government environmental testing labs. The idea behind NELAC is that with a consistent set of standards, consistent results can be obtained with which important decisions regarding public health and environmental management can be made. The program was established in February 1995, after five years of planning. {Anall Chem. 1995,67,706 A 1996,68,83 A and 1996, 68, 527 A)) The standards passed with little controversy. However, concerns were raised on the last day of the meeting regarding the details of personnel qualifications. According to NELAC executive director Jeanne Mourrain, "Just the general description of personnel qualifications was retained, and the rest of it was removed." The issue is expected to be discussed further at the next interim meeting Issues that had previResults of the informal NELAC survey. ously been raised by EPA regarding the proficiencv testing tion to reducing costs, the acceptance of solved at the Tuly meeting NELAC is expected to help eliminate reFor U.S. environmental laboratory data dundant and conflicting accreditation reto be accepted worldwide, U.S. standards quirements for laboratories operating in must mesh with international ones. more than one state. Britt Erickson "NEIAC is based on ISO 25 guidellnes," assures Mourrain. The details necessary to ensure uniformity with the international standards have been added, said Mourrain. A forum for Laboratories operating under Good Labora- analytical hope tory Practices (GLP) have already estabAnalytical science in the U.K. has been lished international acceptance of their forced to regroup to cope with the growstandards. There has been concern that ing pressure on its services. Companies placing the GLP program under the umare restructuring, and public and acabrella of NELAC could jeopardize internademic sectors face increasing demands tional acceptance. According to Mourrain from dwindling funds, new international 588 A
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, October 1, 1997
standards, and European law (regarding such matters as water impurities, pesticide residues, and pollution levels), as well as closer scrutiny in the courts. As a result, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and other interested bodies initiated an Analytical Science Forum (ASF) to improve strategy, strengthen analytical science, and discuss issues. The RSC says that greater interactton among concerned organizations with a vested interest in analysis is necessary. Thii conclusion was reinforced by Foresight, ,he UK government's effort to capitalize on science, which recognized analytical science as important but in need of repair. The ASF's main aim is simply to promote better contact among organizations involved in analysis—whether working in chemistry, physics, mathematics, electronics, computing, instrumentation, or communications—explains Bryan Pierce, immediate past-president of the RSC's Analytical Division. Improved communication, he hopes, will allow member organizations to coordinate mutually beneficial activities. In addition, the ASF will attempt to identify key areas for analytical science and wield influence with funding bodies such as the Research Councils and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Questions concerning the science's image—demoralizingly low in routine areas but glamorous in forensics, for instance— and how to attract new students into the field will also be faced. ASF Secretary Paula Whelan says some 23 organizations are involved thus far, but "membership of the Forum is still evolving." Membership is open to any organization interested in analytical science. Pierce's hopes of the ASF improving the outlook for analytical science are not without foundation. Members already have diverse interests and include the RSC, the Institute of Physics, the Association of British Spectroscopists, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Chromatographic Society, the Association of Public Analysts the Forensic Science Society and the Chemical Industries Association. The DTI will act observer while strong links will be retained with Foresight through its Chemicals Panel The ASF has established a steering group, which will meet this month to decide priorities for action. One topic open for discussion will be how well analytical scientists in other countries are coping with the pressures on the field. Pierce does not want to raise expectations too high—analytical science has
