The VAM-Physical Programme supports accurate physical analytical measurements. These are fundamental in a wide range of industrial and legislative processes and are the crucial measurement issues in scientific fields such as gas, particulate, trace chemical, environmental, surface chemical, electroanalytical, single molecule and nanotechnological analysis. They are particularly important in a number of emerging scientific areas where analytical measurements currently lack sufficient traceability (e.g. measurement of the physical characteristics of nanoparticles, and the characterisation of novel, miniaturised sensing devices). The Programme also supports measurement requirements for a number of issues of increasing public concern such as greenhouse gases, and detection and identification of pollutants in ambient and indoor air.