JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held1 The EAQC-WISE blueprint: Recommendations for a quality control system for chemical monitoring under the WFD A. Held IRMM - Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements Geel - Belgium

2 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held EAQC-WISE Aim of the project: Outline of a quality control system for chemical monitoring under the WFD Current status: “Blue print” developed, discussed with stakeholders at workshop June 2008, finalisation of report ongoing

3 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held The ideal system Effective Sustainable Clear responsibilities Secured funding Flexible Simple Feasible

4 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Proficiency testing Reference Materials Research Standardisation Validated Methods Communication of QA/QC information Training Accreditation Building blocks for QA/QC

5 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Findings of the project - 1 Still many specific QA/QC tools missing (PTs, (C)RMs, validated methods, training products) Lists of missing tools available (  Maintain lists  Mechanism to fill gaps and initiate actions

6 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Findings of the project - 2 A lot of good initiatives related to QA/QC ongoing in different Member States  Coordination?  Exchange of best practice?  Strategic planning?

7 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Findings of the project - 3 Some developments hampered by language barriers (training, PTs)  How to solve?

8 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Findings of the project - 4 Competent authorities (CAs) are usually not experts in QA/QC Accreditation bodies / technical assessors are not experts in WFD Provide support to CA on QA/QC Provide support to accreditation bodies on WFD issues

9 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held First conclusion Forum needed that will  Link actors  Exchange information and best practice  Take responsibility for processes  Initiate activities  Facilitate improved use of resources  Set up a system (the “blue print”)  Structure of National and European Expert Groups (NEGs, EEG)

10 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held National Expert Groups Can be group of experts or nominated institute(s) or any other structure bringing together the required expertise Up to CA to decide Allows incorporation of any existing structure One per Member State (MS) or group of MS or region (e.g. river basin) Geographic coverage needs to be ensured

11 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Mandate NEG Advisory function to Competent Authority on QA/QC issues Facilitate communication Send delegate to European Expert Group (EEG) Collect information on QA/QC issues and problems Identify gaps and needs for QA/QC tools Identify the reasons for the existence of those gaps Communicate the need to a relevant body at national level. Refer to EEG if European dimension Early warning system Provide input to the database of recommended QA/QC tools Review quality control information, assessing fitness for purpose of data, identify areas for improvement

12 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held European Expert Group Consists of delegates of NEG + stakeholders (EA, CEN, EUROLAB, EURACHEM, DGs, …) Clear mandate within the Common Implementation Strategy (WFD-CIS) Could be part of the Chemical Monitoring Activity (CMA) Sub-structure with working groups on specific topics

13 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Mandate of the EEG Advisory function to DG Environment, EEA and other relevant European bodies on QA/QC issues Collect information on QA/QC issues and problems from NEGs, European Accreditation (EA), networks of PT providers, training providers, etc. Support relevant voluntary networks of e.g. PT providers, provide them with relevant information and feedback Identify gaps and needs for QA/QC tools identify the reasons for the existence of those gaps Establish prioritised lists of needed QA/QC tools using set criteria Communicate the need for QA/QC tools to a relevant body at European level Maintain a database of recommended QA/QC tools for WFD purposes

14 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Proficiency testing Self committed network of PT providers that will work together to Organise PT schemes for all parameters on Priority Substance list Organise schemes at EU level also for analytes that are only analysed by few labs per country Guarantee harmonised performance evaluation Decrease cost of PTs due to cooperation

15 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Proficiency testing “Plan B”: EC funding of PTs for crucial, difficult parameters in the event of market failure

16 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Reference Materials Survey of existing materials Assessment of suitability for WFD List of recommended RMs Prioritised list of missing RMs Support initiation of new RM developments Provide guidance where no RMs are available (yet)

17 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Reference materials How: Via expert groups Criteria for prioritisation, criteria for recommended RMs EEG communicate to funding bodies, research, RM producers etc.

18 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Research The expert groups, together with river/marine commissions and a network of labs should Evaluate the status: where are the gaps? Perform gap analysis: are current tools fit for purpose? Define and classify the work to be done: direct towards basic research or standardisation Prioritise: level of importance of existing gaps, cost effectiveness Give feedback to regulator Link to other processes: standardisation, validated methods, reference materials, …

19 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Standardisation Needs for new or improved standards are collected by expert group, needs are analysed and tasks defined Investigation on existing tools, gap analysis Definition and classification of work to be done together with CEN Prioritisation of tasks Use of prioritised task list for proposing a new mandate to CEN Execution of new work items Implementation of new standards in regulatory framework

20 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Validated methods All methods to fulfil minimum performance criteria (QA/QC Directive) Maintain list of standardised methods fit-for- purpose for WFD Open list of validated, non-standardised methods not feasible Validation following international standards and guidelines

21 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Communication Expert groups are cornerstone for communication of QA/QC issues Provide expertise and advice on QA/QC to CA Review QC information, assess fitness for purpose Identify areas for improvement Support data interpretation related to quality issues Provide advice at EU level, e.g. specifications

22 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held

23 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Training Voluntary network of training providers should Notify labs, NABs, CAs and expert group of new products and services Collaborate to improve geographical and linguistic coverage

24 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Training Expert group Collect, monitor and assess products using set criteria Communicate information on appropriate training products to stakeholders Maintain a list of appropriate training products and services Identify gaps in the provision of training products, communicate to training service providers

25 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Accreditation Accreditation should become mandatory (labs and PT) National expert groups should include member of NAB and of monitoring labs Communicate positive/negative experiences from both to EEG EEG advice on the improvement of the application of accreditation in collaboration with EA Specify requirements for accreditation at EU level Same minimum level of competence of technical assessors across EU Working group of EA should deal with WFD specific issues

26 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Accreditation Working group of EA on WFD: Common training of assessors on WFD issues, exchange of experience Minimum requirements for PT participation of WFD labs (frequency, scores, action if not successful) Harmonise scopes of accreditation Using existing guidance as much a possible

27 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held If you think this is all too ambitious and it will not happen… See our success story on proficiency testing…

28 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Consequences and follow-up Convert final report of EAQC-WISE into Guidance Document in activity 2 of CMA Approval of Guidance Document by SCG and Water Directors

29 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Follow up Initiation of additional voluntary networks: training providers, WFD laboratories Integration of European Expert Group in CMA (activity 2), update of CMA mandate to integrate EEG tasks Establishment of the National Expert Groups Setting up of networks including links with existing ones

30 JRC - IRMM – 17/18 June 2008 – EAQC-WISE project workshop – Held Follow up Regular review of activities (self assessment of expert groups, including stakeholders) Regular update of mandates of expert groups