Reference materials - a view from a small country

ISO/IEC 17025 has an increased emphasis on traceability and estimation of u ncertainty of measurement compared with ISO Guide 25. Demonstration of trac eability is a new concept in analytical chemistry and depends on access to relevant reference materials or use of reference methods. Until now most re ference materials used in New Zealand have been imported, because they offe red international comparability. New Zealand is currently starting to devel op the required infrastructure so that it will be able to produce unique re ference materials that will contribute to the total international effort in improving the reliability of analytical chemistry.