New specification for care of racing greyhounds launched

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a new specification for looking after racing greyhounds housed in residential trainers’ kennels. The specification is comprehensive in its scope, covering requirements for constructing the kennels, bedding, diet, and the appropriate veterinary healthcare of greyhounds, among other requirements.

Development of the specification, PAS 251:2017 Specification for greyhound trainers’ residential kennels, was first recommended by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) following a government review of secondary legislation specific to greyhound racing.

PAS 251 provides a consensus-based specification for residential racing greyhound kennels based upon best practice and the collaborative experience of animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, government and industry specialists. The goal of this specification is to provide a kennel standard that supports good welfare practice.

The specification covers requirements related to the physical construction of the kennel, including the unit sizing, lighting and ventilation, kennel interiors, drainage, and electrical appliances. Day-to-day concerns for greyhound handlers’ – such as vaccinations, waste removal, cleaning and disinfectant, and food preparation and storage – are outlined in the PAS. 

The environmental enrichment of the kennelled greyhounds – including requirements for exercise, monitoring behaviour, health and welfare, handling and training – is also covered in the specification. Greyhounds, like all animals, can be unpredictable even when expertly trained. Accordingly, PAS 251 covers emergency precautions, kennel security, and isolation facilities.

Sponsored by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, PAS 251 is applicable to all types of greyhound racing, whether licensed by the local authority or a regulatory body responsible for issuing licenses and accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The implementation of the specification is voluntary; it does not replace the obligations set out in existing animal welfare legislation. 

Whilst intended for kennels which house more than two racing greyhounds, PAS 251 may also be used as guidance for kennels which house two or fewer greyhounds. The specification covers where a greyhound permanently resides, rather than kennels at racecourses designed as temporary kennelling prior to a greyhound taking part in a race.

Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development for Governance and Resilience at BSI, said: “Britain is a nation of dog lovers, and the greyhound is one of our best known breeds. In creating PAS 251, BSI brought together renowned animal charities and industry experts to create best practice care for these animals in residential kennels.

“This new specification is intended to be both realistic and achievable for trainers of greyhounds, whilst also being measurable and auditable if used as a basis of a certification or inspection scheme.”

PAS 251 is not intended for other breeds of dogs, nor is it intended to apply to kennels that only accommodate greyhounds which are retired from racing, such as a greyhound re-homing organization. Commercial greyhound breeding establishments also fall outside the scope of this specification.

The following organizations were involved in the development of PAS 251 as members of the steering group: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home; Defra; Dogs Trust; Greyhound Board of Great Britain; Greyhound Forum; Greyhound Trainers Association; Greyhound Trust; Racecourse Promoters Association; RSPCA; Society of Greyhound Veterinarians; The Kennel Club; UKAS.

CEN Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG): enhancing the quality, efficiency and safety of healthcare services

Standardization in the area of healthcare services has experienced an increase in the number of initiatives. Healthcare services in hospitals and ambulatory care centres are heavily standardized by private, semi-private and public organizations that can be of national, European and international nature. International examples include Joint Commission International (JCI) and Health Standards Organization (HSO). Other standardization bodies in this field include associations of hospitals or medical doctors, quality institutes or private consortia. In recent years, healthcare services standards also have been developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and its members at European and national levels.

Given the importance of this field, the CEN Technical Board decided in March 2016 to establish a Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG) with the aim of exploring how standardization can support quality, efficiency and safety in complex healthcare services throughout Europe. The Focus Group held its first meeting in November 2016.

The Focus group is open to all stakeholders concerned with healthcare services and its meetings are attended by representatives of CEN National Members and representatives of European organizations covering the spectrum of healthcare services. The third meeting of the group took place on 13 November 2017 at CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre in Brussels.

Currently, CEN’s HSFG is doing a mapping of standards in healthcare services. The objective of the exercise is to have a better overview of existing standardisation activities in the field of healthcare services and subsequently to determine whether and where CEN can add value vis-à-vis other organisations.

The expected outcome of the Focus Group is therefore to identify areas in which European standards can add value and propose a way forward for addressing them. Moreover, the Focus Group will produce a CEN Guide – a manual for standard writers in healthcare services. The Guide will consolidate current knowledge and lessons-learnt from the developed European Standards in this field in order to share this experience with interested stakeholders.

The following areas are outside the work scope of the Focus group:

.         Medical informatics and medical devices;

.         Cross-border recognition of professional qualifications;

.         Medical/clinical guidelines based on evidence-based medicine.

CEN Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG): enhancing the quality, efficiency and safety of healthcare services

Standardization in the area of healthcare services has experienced an increase in the number of initiatives. Healthcare services in hospitals and ambulatory care centres are heavily standardized by private, semi-private and public organizations that can be of national, European and international nature. International examples include Joint Commission International (JCI) and Health Standards Organization (HSO). Other standardization bodies in this field include associations of hospitals or medical doctors, quality institutes or private consortia. In recent years, healthcare services standards also have been developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and its members at European and national levels.

Given the importance of this field, the CEN Technical Board decided in March 2016 to establish a Focus Group on Healthcare Services (HSFG) with the aim of exploring how standardization can support quality, efficiency and safety in complex healthcare services throughout Europe. The Focus Group held its first meeting in November 2016.

The Focus group is open to all stakeholders concerned with healthcare services and its meetings are attended by representatives of CEN National Members and representatives of European organizations covering the spectrum of healthcare services. The third meeting of the group took place on 13 November 2017 at CEN-CENELEC Meeting Centre in Brussels.

Currently, CEN’s HSFG is doing a mapping of standards in healthcare services. The objective of the exercise is to have a better overview of existing standardisation activities in the field of healthcare services and subsequently to determine whether and where CEN can add value vis-à-vis other organisations.

The expected outcome of the Focus Group is therefore to identify areas in which European standards can add value and propose a way forward for addressing them. Moreover, the Focus Group will produce a CEN Guide – a manual for standard writers in healthcare services. The Guide will consolidate current knowledge and lessons-learnt from the developed European Standards in this field in order to share this experience with interested stakeholders.

The following areas are outside the work scope of the Focus group:

.         Medical informatics and medical devices;

.         Cross-border recognition of professional qualifications;

.         Medical/clinical guidelines based on evidence-based medicine.

DIN SPEC-Projekt für „Serious Games“ gestarte

Am 18.10.2017 fand die Kick-off-Veranstaltung zurDIN SPEC 91380 „Serious Games Metadata Format (SG-MDF)“bei DIN in Berlin statt. Die DIN SPEC soll es Entwicklern von Serious Games ermöglichen, ihre Spiele systematisch zu erfassen und abzulegen. Inhalt der DIN SPEC wird ein hierarchisch aufgebautes, erweiterbares Beschreibungsformat für Serious Games sein, das eine systematische Vergleichbarkeit schafft. Eine solche Datenbank erleichtert es den Käufern, für sie geeignete Spiele zu finden. Der Initiator und Workshop-Leiter Dr. Stefan Göbel (TU Darmstadt und httc e.V.) wird in Abstimmung mit dem Gremium ein Auskunftssystem auf Basis des SG-MDF für Serious Games entwickeln.

Der Geschäftsplan für die DIN SPEC wurde während der Kick-off- Veranstaltung von 43 Personen aus 37 Organisationen angenommen. Vertreten waren Firmen aus der Wirtschaft (Spieleentwickler und Spieledesigner mit verschiedensten Schwerpunkten) und Institutionen der Wissenschaft sowie Vertreter aus Politik und Verwaltung. Der Standard soll innerhalb von sechs Monaten erarbeitet werden. Im nächsten Schritt ist es denkbar, den Standard über das Europäische Komitee für Normung (CEN) und die Internationale Organisation für Normung (ISO) in die internationale Normung zu überführen.

Was sind Serious Games?

Serious Games sind Spiele, die nicht hauptsächlich die Unterhaltung zum Zweck haben. Sie haben mindestens ein weiteres Ziel, beispielsweise einen Lerneffekt, eine Verhaltensänderung oder eine Aufklärungs- bzw. Bewusstseinsveränderung. Sie werden unter anderem von Lehrern, Ausbildern, Trainern, ärzten oder Therapeuten genutzt. Die Anwendungen finden sich in Bereichen wie Sport, Gesundheit, Ernährung, Mobilitätsverhalten, Sicherheit, Religion, Klima oder auch Energie und vielem mehr.

Europaweite Zertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten

DIN SPEC als Basis für Europäische Normungsarbeit

Ziel des Forschungsprojekts „AUDITOR“ ist die Konzeptionierung, exemplarische Umsetzung und Erprobung einer nachhaltig anwendbaren EU-weiten Datenschutzzertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten. Um eine nachhaltige Datenschutzzertifizierung zu konzipieren, wird zunächst ein Kriterienkatalog für die Zertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten nach der DSGVO entwickelt und eine entsprechende Standardisierung in Form einer DIN SPEC angestrebt. Diese DIN SPEC bildet die Grundlage für die Europäische Normung und die Entwicklung eines EU-weit anerkannten Datenschutz-Zertifizierungsschemas.

Lesen Sie mehr zu diesem Thema auf der Website der Uni-Kassel

Europaweite Zertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten

DIN SPEC als Basis für Europäische Normungsarbeit

Ziel des Forschungsprojekts „AUDITOR“ ist die Konzeptionierung, exemplarische Umsetzung und Erprobung einer nachhaltig anwendbaren EU-weiten Datenschutzzertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten. Um eine nachhaltige Datenschutzzertifizierung zu konzipieren, wird zunächst ein Kriterienkatalog für die Zertifizierung von Cloud-Diensten nach der DSGVO entwickelt und eine entsprechende Standardisierung in Form einer DIN SPEC angestrebt. Diese DIN SPEC bildet die Grundlage für die Europäische Normung und die Entwicklung eines EU-weit anerkannten Datenschutz-Zertifizierungsschemas.

Lesen Sie mehr zu diesem Thema auf der Website der Uni-Kassel

New edition of ISO/IEC 17025 just published

The most popular standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories has just been updated, taking into account the latest changes in laboratory environment and work practices.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, is the international reference for laboratories carrying out calibration and testing activities around the world.

Producing valid results that are widely trusted is at the heart of laboratory activities. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 allows laboratories to implement a sound quality system and demonstrate that they are technically competent and able to produce valid and reliable results.

ISO/IEC 17025 also helps facilitate cooperation between laboratories and other bodies by generating wider acceptance of results between countries. Test reports and certificates can be accepted from one country to another without the need for further testing, which, in turn, improves international trade.

In order to reflect the latest changes in market conditions and technology, the new edition of the standard encompasses the activities and new ways of working of laboratories today. It covers technical changes, vocabulary and developments in IT techniques and takes into consideration the latest version of ISO 9001 on quality management.

The three Convenors of CASCO working group 44 (CASCO/WG 44) that revised the standard tell us why the new version of ISO/IEC 17025 is so important for laboratories:

Laboratories already accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 will need to transition their processes to the new version within a three-year period from the publication date of the new standard. The Joint ILAC-ISO Communiqué explains this timeframe transition.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 was developed jointly by ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) under the responsibility of the ISO Committee on conformity assessment (CASCO).

What are the main changes in the 2017 version?

.   The scope has been revised to cover testing, calibration and sampling associated with subsequent calibration and testing.

.   The process approach now matches that of newer standards such as ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 15189 (quality of medical laboratories) and ISO/IEC 17021-1 (requirements for audit and certification bodies).

.   The standard has now a stronger focus on information technologies and incorporates the use of computer systems, electronic records and the production of electronic results and reports.

.   A new chapter introduces the concept of risk-based thinking.

Highlighting the importance of standards on World Aids Day

Today is World AIDS Day, a day to show support for people living with HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s also a day to raise awareness about condom safety.

Condoms are highly effective in providing protection against HIV, that attacks the body’s immune system and can lead to AIDS, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). And to make sure that condoms indeed function in this capacity, they are manufactured and tested to the highest ISO standards to ensure that they don’t break or leak when used.

ISO’s work on condoms is carried out by technical committee ISO/TC 157 on non-systemic contraceptives and STI barrier prophylactics. The standards it develops aim to ensure that condoms fit properly, are free from holes, have adequate physical strength so as not to rip during use, are adequately packaged for protection during storage and are correctly labelled. They also give essential information for the condom user, including instructions for use.

For it to be effective, the quality of the condom is very important. Before any production, the raw material, the latex, already undergoes quality tests. Next, tests are carried out on random individual specimens from each batch. A batch typically represents 150 000 condoms under just one series number.

Condoms also protect from various viruses, not least hepatitis C, a liver-destroying disease. To minimize the risk of viral transmission, ISO/TC 157 has developed a new test procedure for confirming the barrier properties of materials.

“Manufacturers are required to confirm that these condoms are effective viral barriers,” explains Bill Potter from the ISO working group. He adds that the testing of condoms is done from three production lots during the validation stage for any new or modified products. Details of the tests are included in ISO 25841:2017 for female condoms (and the earlier 2011 and 2014 editions) and ISO 23409:2011 for male condoms made from synthetic materials.

Most of the products under the responsibility of ISO/TC 157 are classified as medical devices, and range from the single-use male condom to multiple-use female intra-uterine devices that provide long-term protection. These standards are being developed by ISO/TC 157, whose secretariat is currently held by DSM, the ISO member for Malaysia.

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year. It is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, commemorate those who have passed on and celebrate how far we have come in conquering this deadly disease.

l  淋浴设备

l  水龙头设备

l  流量控制器

l  洁具

l  小便器

l  洗碗机

l  洗衣机

l  用水来干燥的组合式洗衣/干衣机的干衣功能

澳大利亚标准协会的提案已由国际标准化组织（ISO）注册。目前161个ISO成员机构将在该提案投入使用前对其进行审议和评估。

Increasing the efficiency of our water use

Standards Australia has submitted a proposal for a new International Standard on water efficiency labelling with the help of Singapore, Malaysia, China and New Zealand. This aims to further reduce domestic water wastage, support the government’s Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme and make it easier for more countries to benefit from using water efficient products.

Water is the world’s most precious resource and we all have a responsibility to use it wisely. The UN's Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) notes that access to safe water and sanitation is essential to human health, sustainability and economic growth.

As part of Australia’s commitment to greater water efficiency, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources manages the WELS scheme. WELS reduces demand for high quality drinkable water by informing consumers about water efficiency at the point of sale.

The new proposal follows Standards Australia’s development of the joint Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 6400, Water efficient products – Rating and labelling, through the technical committee WS-032, Water Efficient Appliances. This standard contributes to a more water efficient Australia and helps consumers identify which products are “best-of-breed” when it comes to water usage.

The proposed International Standard would assist manufacturers of specified products to transact in a common market, enabling competition and encouraging best practice. It would also empower consumers to use water more wisely.

The WELS Regulator in the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Mr Paul Morris, said an international standard would benefit both consumers and business in reducing water wastage globally

 “Australia’s WELS scheme has been very successful in reducing domestic water use in Australia. Consumers use the information on the WELS label to make informed purchasing decisions that save water and save money on utility bills,” said Mr Morris.

“By 2021 it is estimated that use of water efficient products will help to reduce domestic water use by nearly 150,000 megalitres each year—enough water to fill 60,000 Olympic swimming pools.

“In addition, Australians will save more than one billion dollars overall through reduced water and energy bills.

 “An international standard will benefit Australian consumers and manufacturers by reducing manufacturing costs, and will help other countries implement water efficiency schemes that can save water and reduce the need for costly water infrastructure.”

Standards Australia CEO, Dr Bronwyn Evans, applauded the committee for positioning Australia as a leader for this initiative.

 “An international standard would harmonise existing national systems and help facilitate a common market.

 “With Australia driving this important area of work, we are shaping the way the world works together to reduce our global impact,” said Dr Evans.

The standard relates to the following range of products:

• Showers

• Tap equipment

• Flow controllers

• Lavatory equipment

• Urinal equipment

• Dishwashers

• Clothes washing machines

• The dryer function of combination washer/dryers, where they use water to dry a load

Standards Australia’s submission has been registered with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The 161 member bodies of ISO will now consider and assess the proposal before commencing work.