Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the IUC, IUF and IUP Commissions of the IULTCS

10.00am on Friday 14^th November 2003

held at

AQEIC,
Barcelona, Spain

General Issues Related to IU Commissions.

1.         Welcome and Agreement of Agenda.

Dr Long opened the meeting by welcoming all those who were able to attend the meeting.  The agenda circulated prior to the meeting was agreed.

2.         Apologies.

The following people were in attendance:

Amanda Long                                                           (UK)

Barry Wood                                                              (UK)

Campbell Page                                                          (Switzerland)

David Blair                                                               (Switzerland) 

Jean Claude Cannot                                                   (France)

Joan Barenys                                                           (Spain)

Kerry Senior                                                             (UK)

Christina Eforakopoulou,                                             (Greece)

Renate Meyndt                                                         (Germany)

Jens Fennen                                                            (Switzerland)

Lluïsa Izquierdo                                                         (Spain)

Umberto Fiore                                                          (Italy)

Luisa Cabeza                                                            (Spain)

Apologies were received from:

Tony Passman                   (New Zealand)

Alberto Sofía                     (Argentina)
Henri Gardere                    (France)

Regina Canovas Teixeira      (Brazil)

Patricial Casey De Polzietti   (Argentina)

Marjorie Hanson                 (USA)

William Gelas                     (France)

Michele Tomaselli               (Italy)

Jan Broeders                     (Netherlands)

3.         Minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting held at the IULTCS congress in Mexico was agreed as circulated by Mr John Williams.

4.         Update on the Relationship Between ISO / CEN / IULTCS.

Dr Long summarised the work that has been carried out to try and improve the working relationship between the various standards committees.  Below is a summary of the key points discussed (based on the information presented at the IULTCS Executive Committee Meeting in Bologna on the 30^th October 2003).

There have been several meetings recently to discuss the working relationship between CEN / IULTCS and ISO.  (This will also have impact on the SLTC with regards to publication of test methods as they produce the JSLTC).  Below summarises the key issues.

• There exists an arrangement at present whereby the IULTCS test committees have special International Standardising Body (ISB) status in ISO.  This means the IUC, IUF and IUP are essentially the respective ISO Technical Committees for leather test methods and thus any method adopted by the IULTCS can be accepted to the final vote stage (FDIS) by ISO.
  
  
• Also in existence is the Vienna agreement, the aim of which is to allow CEN and ISO to work in partnership on test methods of mutual interest.  One organisation of the two agrees to take the lead, and once the enquiry stage, etc. is completed, the 2 organisations can either  complete the final vote stage together or accept the other organisation’s method by a simple yes / no final vote from their members.
  
  
• Concerns have been expressed that for ISO / CEN methods in the case of IULTCS originated methods, (ones which have been published by JSLTC for comment followed by a final vote by ISO), there is no official opportunity for CEN members to participate in the comments/enquiry stage.  They have just a yes / no final vote.

As a result of this, a series of proposals have been suggested.:

• Any new work items for the IULTCS will be submitted to ISO for a draft comments stage.
  
  
• Any methods from ISO will be submitted to CEN to see if they wish to participate under the Vienna agreement.
  
  
• Any methods from CEN should be submitted to ISO to see if they wish to participate under the Vienna agreement.

The above is intended to re-establish co-ordinated work programmes between the three groups.

The following are modifications to the existing mechanism of working.

• IULTCS methods submitted through ISO will undergo the DIS (draft vote) stage whereby comments can be received.  If CEN is not interested in the method, then the existing fast track system direct to FDIS voting will be retained.
  
  
• Consultation and voting in IULTCS / ISO / CEN will be synchronised.  Especially at the ISO-DIS  / CEN enquiry and JSLTC publication stages.
  
  
• During consultation and ballots, ISO, IULTCS and CEN should be seeing identical documents as far as content is concerned.  This is to ensure no disparity between the three groups.
  
  
• Once the final stages of the ISO DIS / CEN Enquiry stage is reached only written comments should be accepted through appropriate channels.  This is to avoid the problems experienced previously with last minute changes, resulting in slightly different wording in IULTCS / CEN / ISO texts.
  
  
• The aim currently is to result in 3 equivalent methods.  The ideal is to merge the systems to result in 1 document with a dual numbering system. (similar to the current situation with the International Dairy Federation).
  
  
• The issue of joint publication of one standard will have an impact on the SLTC and when discussed at their AGM it was agreed that they are happy to go forward with this.  The issue with regards to copyright of methods is being investigated in conjunction with the editor of JSLTC, and this was an item to be raised at the SLTC Council Meeting to be held on 13^th November.  ISO have offered that after comments have been received from the DIS and draft JSLTC publication, ISO would take over amendments agreed and the final voting, editing, printing and distribution.  There would not be a separate IU method, only a joint ISO | IU method.
  
  
• According to an agreement reached in 1990, ISO / IULTCS methods are available from ISO to the IULTCS at 50% of the normal price.  There is then the option of the IULTCS selling these on to members (although this is another area that is being discussed by the SLTC).  Also this approach makes the option of Internet sales or a compilation of a Leather Test Methods CD ROM possible.

Following this presentation Dr Page circulated an example of the methods now issued by the International Dairy Federation, who have with ISO a similar agreement in place.  So this IULTCS / ISO system for leather test methods takes advantage of facilities that are already in place and approved by ISO. 

It was also pointed out that ISO have staff who are able to carry out the editing process.  At present CEN are unable to carry out any editing of methods and so they rely on each regional language group to amend their own versions. 

There then followed a discussion concerning the fact that it is very uncommon for IU test methods to be published in full in JSLTC after approval.  Very often only the amendments are published and notice given that the method is now official.  In fact, quickly obtaining final versions of single IU test methods is not a simple task.  This is an issue that should be resolved with the proposed system as ISO would publish the final methods and have them available to immediately download via their on-line Internet system.

The problem of harmonising the system with CEN was discussed, and Dr Cannot mentioned the problems associated with CEN recognising the special ISB status of the IULTCS within ISO.  One suggested approach was to link with ISO TC 120.  Dr Page highlighted that this had been considered but that there were considerable advantages in keeping the IULTCS status as it is. The IUC, IUF and IUP Commissions are specifically focussed on leather test methods. The IULTCS is already recognised as an International Standardising Body by ISO and therefore is able to deal with the ISO Central Secretariat directly.

The problem of delays within CEN were raised by Mr Wood, and the case of requests for joint working on ISO/IULTCS methods not being answered was highlighted.  To try and solve some of these issues it was decided to ask CEN TC 289 that any request for information regarding, for example, participation in method development through the Vienna agreement should be copied to the relevant TC 289 Working Group convenor. 

The next step of the process is to draft a working agreement between ISO / IULTCS and also ISO / IULTCS / SLTC.  This will be carried out by Dr Long, Dr Page and Mr A. Williams from ISO.  CEN will be kept informed where the issues relate to them. 

Meeting of the IUC Commission.

5.         Progress on IUC Standard Methods.

As listed in the minutes of the last meeting (IULTCS Congress in Mexico) there were several chemical test methods accepted as IUC standard methods.  This has cleared some of the backlog that existed.  The sole work items left at present are IUC 8 – Determination of Chromic Oxide, and the five year review of some IUC / ISO methods which are discussed below.

There were some issues raised concerning the test methods that had been accepted as IUC standards.

IUC 20 / 21 – Azo dyes

IUC 20 has been officially published as CEN ISO/TS 17234, an ISO and CEN Technical Specification.

It was decided to await the results of the current EC funded AALARM project before including the 2 new banned amines into the methods.

There are issues related to the recovery rates that are listed within the methods  (both this and the equivalent CEN standard).  It was suggested that an amendment should be issued to solve this problem.  An amendment will be drafted for discussion at the next meeting.

IUC 18 – Chromium VI

IUC 18 has been officially published as CEN/TS 14495, a CEN Technical Specification.

A problem was raised concerning the precision of this method when followed as written.  There is a variation in buffer strength used due to the chromium stock solution being prepared in an aqueous solution, but subsequent dilution being carried out using buffer.  It was agreed that there would need to be some type of ring trial to prove this effect.  CTC are planning a ring trial in the near future and it may be possible to incorporate the trial into this.  Therefore the situation will be discussed following these trials

The potential for false positive results was also highlighted and it was suggested that a statement should be incorporated into an amendment to the method requiring a UV curve to be collected to determine whether the pink colour is due to the chromium VI  / diphenylcarbazide complex.

A new method has been circulated from Italy that uses ion chromatography to determine chromium VI levels.  Inter-laboratory trials are due to be held and the committee decided to await the outcome of these.

There were no specific comments relating to the methods for determination of PCP (IUC 25 has been officially published as CEN/TS 14495, a CEN Technical Specification) and formaldehyde (IUC 19 has been officially published as CEN ISO/TS 17226, an ISO and CEN Technical Specification).  It was suggested that these should be proposed as formal methods with CEN and ISO with the aim of working through the newly proposed system.

6.         Discussion of draft IUC 8 (ISO/PWI 5398 & prEN 13633) – Determination of Chromic Oxide.

At the request of CEN TC 289 and to avoid confusion, the several different analytical procedures within the method have been separated and 4 individual methods are being developed. They will be sub-methods under the original Standard number. The 4 draft methods had been circulated to the committee to allow a chance to comment on these first drafts. 

A general comment was raised that validity data should be supplied for each of the levels and that in each case an upper and lower range should be quoted.  It is also important to consider a limit of detection in each case.  It should be ensured that the methods prepared cover the range of concentrations that are likely to be expected.  Inter-laboratory trials are probably needed to validate these methods, but the committee agreed to investigate whether they were aware of any such trials that had already taken place before new trials are arranged.  Other comments were received and discussed.  Those agreed will be incorporated into the revised draft standard.  These will be prepared by the chairman and circulated prior to the next meeting.  At this stage the need for further changes and inter laboratory trials can be evaluated.

7.         5 Year Review of ISO / IUC methods.

Several ISO methods are due for 5 year review in 2003.  These were discussed and the following agreed.

8.         Proposals for New Work Items.

Discussions were held as to the option for including new items on the work programme.  One issue raised was the problems associated with the analysis of disperse dyes.  The lack of commercial support was highlighted with regards to institutes being unwilling to disclose their test methods.   At this time no new methods were added to the work list, but the options will be reconsidered at the next meeting.

Minutes of the IUF Commission

9.         Progress with:

  - IUF 412 (ISO / PWI 17228) Colour fastness to accelerated ageing

  - IUF 452 (ISO / PWI 20433) Colour fastness to crocking

Campbell Page reported that these 2 IUF methods were published as draft versions in the December 2002 issue of the JSLTC. The IULTCS Council of Delegates approved them as official IUF methods in May 2003 at the IULTCS Congress in Mexico. The Council of Delegates also requested that both methods should proceed for adoption as ISO methods.

Since May 2003 Campbell Page reported that the 2 IUF methods have been modified to the ISO format and submitted to the ISO Central Secretariat. The ISO Secretariat consequently submitted them to the CEN /TC 289 Secretariat offering to advance them as joint EN / ISO Draft Standards. No response had been received from the CEN /TC 289 Secretariat to this approach, so it was decided to progress the 2 methods for ISO voting as Final Draft ISO Standards.

10.      5 year review for the ISO / IUF Standards

All 9 ISO / IUF Standards were due for their 5 year reviews. In answer to specific ISO questions about the relevance of the Standards, the committee approved the ISO ratings (must be >= 9 points) for all Standards as follows:

       - contribution to international trade and production                                    5 points

       - contribution to economic efficiency, health, safety or the environment    2 points

       - extensive use of the Standard within the countries                                    5 points 

Additionally all 9 Standards were re-confirmed as being relevant to the leather industry.

The following specific amendments and corrections to the Standards had been received and were discussed. All were accepted.

ISO 11640 | IUF 450 – Colour fastness to cycles of to-and-fro rubbing

Section 2 : Add ISO 105-A04  for instrumental assessment of staining (grey scale) and ISO 105-A05 for instrumental assessment of change in colour (grey scale).

Section 7.6 : Allow instrumental assessment of change of colour and staining

Annex A.1: Change address of the source of VESLIC rubfastness tester - now SATRA

Annex A.2: Correct address of EMPA Test Materials

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard with the above amendments.

ISO 11641 | IUF 426 – Colour fastness to perspiration

Section 2 : Add ISO 105-A04  for instrumental assessment of staining (grey scale) and ISO 105-A05 for instrumental assessment of change in colour (grey scale).

Section 4.1 : Correct the pressure value to 1,23 kN/m²

Section 4.5 : Add safety statement that solutions containing nitriloacetic acid should not be pipetted by mouth.

Section 4.7 : Allow instrumental assessment of change in colour and staining

Section 5.6 : Change so it says simply « standard conditions as specified in ISO 2419. »

Section 5.7 : Allow instrumental assessment of change in colour and staining

Annex A.1: Correct the address of Schröder

Annex A.2: Include EMPA Test Materials as a source

Annex B: Correction: Change IUF 424 to IUF 421

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard with the above amendments.

ISO 11642 | IUF 421 – Colour fastness to water

Section 2 : Add ISO 105-A04  for instrumental assessment of staining (grey scale) and ISO 105-A05 for instrumental assessment of change in colour (grey scale).

Section 4.1 : Correct the pressure value to 1,23 kN/m²

Section 4.6 : Allow instrumental assessment of change in colour and staining

Section 5.6 : Change so it says simply « standard conditions as specified in ISO 2419. »

Section 5.7 : Allow instrumental assessment of change in colour and staining

Annex A.1: Correct the address of Schröder

Annex A.2: Include EMPA Test Materials as a source

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard with the above amendments.

ISO 11643 | IUF 434 – Colour fastness of small samples to dry-cleaning solutions

Title:  Change “dry-cleaning” in title to “solvent”. The committee considered the use of the word “dry-cleaning” in the title could lead to mis-understandings, since changes in dry cleaning procedures have occurred in the last 10 years. This method is essentially only the colour fastness to perchloroethylene. 

Section 2 : Add ISO 105-A04  for instrumental assessment of staining (grey scale) and ISO 105-A05 for instrumental assessment of change in colour (grey scale).

Section 5 : Simply refer « in accordance with ISO 2419. » at the end. That is, delete specific temperature and rh values.

Section 6.1 : Add a new note to allow other dry-cleaning solutions as long as they are reported in the test report.

Section 6.3 : Add a last sentence to recondition the composite test speicmen to standard conditions according to ISO 2419.

Section 6.4 : Allow instrumental assessment of change in colour and staining

Annex A.: Delete this Annex.

Annex B.1: Correct address of L. Dose KG and Heraeus Instruments.

Annex B.2: Include EMPA Test Materials as a source

Annex B.3 : Correct EMPA Test Materials address.

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard with the above amendments.

ISO 11644 | IUF 470 – Determination of adhesion of finish to leather

Section 5.4 : Allow for other special flat mouthed clamping devices that pull the leather at 90° to the plate holder. The use of the hook device can result in curling of the leather specimen. (Chairman’s comment: Interestingly the original provisional version of this method published in JSLTC, p.103 in 1975 included a simple flat clamp system!)

Section 5.6 : Allow for alternative adhesives like the « instant » cyanoacrylate glues. Silicon components make the listed 2 component system practically unusable for some finishes.

David Blair and Umberto Fiore agreed to look at methods previously used in the Bally materials test lab. Additionally in Germany the VGCT Leather Test Methods Group is organising ring trials to evaluate different adhesives and equipment.

Section 6.1 : Condition according to ISO 2419

Section 7.5 : Condition according to ISO 2419

Section 8.6 : Re-write this whole section to allow electronic integrating programs for evaluation of the adhesion value from the force-distance diagram.

Annex A.1, A.2 and A.3 : Correct addresses of commercial sources

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard but several points are currently in work to clarify the aspects of adhesives and the use of alternative apparatus.

ISO 15700 | IUF 420 – Colour fastness to water spotting

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard without any changes.

ISO 15701 | IUF 442 – Colour fastness to migration into plasticised PVC

Section 2 : Change IUP 2 Sampling to « ISO 2418 | IUP 2  Leather – Chemical, physical and mechanical and fastness tests – Sampling location »

Section 4.1 : Correct to read « a uniform pressure of 74 kN/m² (equivalent to loading the leather test specimen with a mass of 750 g/cm² ).»

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard with the above corrections.

ISO 15702 | IUF 435 – Colour fastness to machine washing

Section 2 : Change IUP 2 Sampling to « ISO 2418 | IUP 2  Leather – Chemical, physical and mechanical and fastness tests – Sampling location »

Section 6.4 : Change so it says simply « standard conditions as specified in ISO 2419. »

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard with the above corrections.

ISO 15703 | IUF 423 – Colour fastness to mild washing

Section 2 : Change IUP 2 Sampling to « ISO 2418 | IUP 2  Leather – Chemical, physical and mechanical and fastness tests – Sampling location »

Section 6.4 : Change so it says simply « standard conditions as specified in ISO 2419. »

Decision: Confirm the ISO Standard with the above corrections.

11.      New work items

No new work items were submitted for discussion. Campbell Page reported he proposed reviewing the remaining IUF methods that are not ISO Standards. An updated IUF 120 (General Principles of colour fastness testing for leather) in ISO format would be prepared for the next IUF meeting.

Meeting of the IUP Commission

Mr Wood took the chair for the first time at the IUP Commission and welcomed the delegates.  The draft agenda was accepted.

13.           Outstanding Issues on IUP Methods.

Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the IUP section of the joint meeting of all the Commissions held in Cancun on 30 May 2003 were accepted.  Since the meeting progress on the CEN voting has been investigated and the table below (taken from the previous minutes) shows the developments.  IUP 37, 45, 46, 47 and 48 are now approved EN Standards.  IUP 37, 45, 46, 47 and  48 are at present not submitted to ISO. But now they are accepted as EN Standards this aspect will be an item for consideration at the next IUP meeting. Unfortunately some of the amendments proposed and accepted for the IUP methods have not been accepted for the official EN methods (only simple editorial corrections were accepted).

The other 2 draft methods referred to in the previous minutes, bagginess and soiling, are both out for comment within the CEN system, since CEN TC 289 had requested them.  On receipt of the CEN comments the methods will be amended and published in the JSLTC.

14.      5 year review of ISO / IUP methods

ISO had advised the chairman that two Standards were due for 5 year review.  These were:

• ISO 3379 | IUP 9    Distension and strength of grain – ball burst test
• ISO 11646 | IUP 32  (EN ISO 11646)    Measurement of area.

The committee was asked to consider:

1.      Whether the standard was still required;

2.     Whether the standard should be amended or approved as it stands for a further 5 years.

The committee approved the ISO ratings (must be >= 9 points) for these Standards as follows:

       - contribution to international trade and production                                    5 points

       - contribution to economic efficiency, health, safety or the environment    2 points

       - extensive use of the Standard within the countries                                    5 points

Additionally both Standards were re-confirmed as being relevant to the leather industry.

With regard to ISO 3379 | IUP 9, the ball burst test, the Committee agreed to retain the method in its current state for a further five years:

With regard to ISO 11646 | IUP 32, measurement of area, the Committee was unanimous in their opinion that this method must be retained as a basic reference method in the leather industry.

15.      New work items

Dr U. Fiore suggested three new work items:

1.      Oil resistance.  This method is based on the application of light mineral oil to n-heptane to leather and the time to penetration for the drop is measured.  It is similar to the 3M test. Dr Page pointed out there was previously a similar work item in the IUF Commission and after adoption of the textile method ISO 14419 in 1998, this work item was removed from the IUF work programme. If it was felt a leather version was required then it could be taken back up as a work item.

2.      Wicking test.  A method is suggested to measure the static absorption, time and water uptake.

3.      Electrical resistance.  In particular a method to measure the electrical resistance and provide an insight into leather performance against static electricity.

All three were considered interesting and Dr U. Fiore was invited to submit methods for the consideration of the commission for the next meeting.

L. Izquierdo proposed that a method be developed for measuring the dry cleanability of garments or leathers.  Previous discussions during the meeting had referred to different dry cleaning regimes currently being used in the market place.  A method that could be used for testing to these regimes would be useful.  At present the method only considers the colour fastness of materials to solvents but not the suitability of different leathers for specific cleaning methods.  L. Izquierdo was invited to report back to the next meeting of the commission.

16.      Any Other Business

The only other issue raised was the limited amount of time available for the committee to evaluate information circulated to them.  The committee chairmen agreed to try and circulate information and draft test methods further in advance of scheduled meetings.

17.             Date of next meeting. 

The next meeting will be held as a joint meeting of the CEN TC 289 Task Groups and IU commissions.  This is to try and begin the process of closer working within the methods.  This is to be held on Monday, 26 April 2004, at SSIP in Naples.  There being no further business the meeting was closed at 17.15

(Note: following recent discussion with SSIP, the date may be changed to Friday 30^th April.  This will be confirmed shortly).