G/TBT/W/801  
 
13 May 2024  
(24-3711) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
THEMATIC SESSION ON THE ROLE OF METROLOGY IN FACILITATING TRADE  
TENTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW  
Proposal from Australia  
The following submission, dated 13  May 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of 
Australia . 
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  Metrology is the science of measurement and its application.1 Metrology ensures 
measurements are accurate, stable , comparable, coherent and provides the technical foundation for 
agreements related to international trade. Metrology is one of the four fundamental pillars of the 
international quality infrastructure that underpins world trade.  
1.2.  The TBT Agreement recognise s the essential role of conformity assessment procedures in 
facilitating trade. Confidence in the continued reliability of conformity assessment results is vital. In 
many cases, this relies specifically on effective national measurement and testing systems . 
Metrology is necessary to regulators and legislators for establishing and enforcing regulatory limits, 
and an efficient worldwide measurement system is vital to reduce technical barriers to trade.  
1.3.  Article 6.1 of the TBT Agreement provides that Members "shall ensure, whenever possible, that 
results of conformity assessment procedures in other Members are accepted, even when those 
procedures differ from their own, provided they are satisfied that those procedures offer an 
assurance of conformity w ith applicable technical regulations or standards equivalent to their own 
procedures"2. The technical competence required for the system to work effectively is underpinned 
by a sound metrology infrastructure and engagement with the global metrology bodies  established 
under the inter -governmental treaties in metrology. In the case of scientific metrology, this is the 
International Bureau of Weights and Measures (Bureau international des poids et mesures, BIPM), 
an observer to the TBT Committee.  
1.4.  The signific ance of metrology to effective implementation of the TBT Agreement is further 
highlighted in the recently endorsed TBT Committee Guidelines on Conformity Assessment 
Procedures. This notes that an internationally recognised National Quality Infrastructure ( NQI) is 
essential in facilitating trade between members3. Participation by Member States in international QI 
frameworks assures confidence in traded products and services and supports effective 
implementation of regulations among signatories. The multilat eral metrology system promotes 
mutually recognised and universally accepted measurements and test results to facilitate world 
trade. The metrology system thrives when participation in the multilateral system is robust, and 
 
1 JCGM (2012), International Vocabulary of Metrology – Basic and General Concepts and Associated Terms  
(VIM 3rd edition), JCGM 200:2012 (JCGM 200:2008 with minor corrections),  term 2.2 . 
See https://www.bipm.org/en/committees/jc/jcgm/publications . 
2 See WTO TBT Agreement Article 6.1 . 
3 See G/TBT/54 , para. 2.32. p. 8.  G/TBT/W/801  
 
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  work is underway by the peak metr ology bodies to address barriers to participation by all States in 
the international system.  
1.5.  Article 11 of the TBT Agreement contains provisions on technical assistance. In particular 
Committee Members are encouraged to participate in and offer technical a ssistance aimed at 
improving technical infrastructure, including in relation to development of National Quality 
Infrastructure and 'regarding the establishment of the institutions and legal framework which would 
enable them to fulfil the obligations of mem bership or participation in such systems '.4 Further, the 
WTO TBT Committee has recommended the exchange of information and sharing of experience in 
relation to these activities5.  
1.6.  Commitment to supporting developing Member participation in the TBT Commit tee and 
implementation of the TBT Agreement was recently reinforced at MC13 through the Ministerial 
declaration on the continued importance of Special and Differential treatment in WTO agreements.6 
1.7.  With all this in mind, and noting that, despite the signi ficance of metrology to the successful 
implementation of the TBT Agreement, it has not been the primary focus of any thematic sessions 
for at least a decade, there is an opportunity in 2025 to highlight metrology 's role in facilitating trade 
with a specifi c focus on activities to promote robust and full participation by all WTO Members in the 
international metrology frameworks. This would be an opportunity to showcase technical assistance 
work and other projects underway in support of this objective. For ex ample:  
a. At the 27th meeting of the  General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), BIPM 's 
plenary organ, Member States endorsed Resolution 6 on "Universal Adherence to the 
Metre Convention " (https://www.bipm.org/en/cgpm -2022/resolution -6) "to further 
strengthen the role of the BIPM and to facilitate wider participation in its activities, thus 
achieving lasting and universal adherence to the Metre Convention ". The BIPM has 
currently 64 Member States and 36 Associates ( https://www.bipm.org/en/member -
states ), representing over 100 States of the UN Member States. Th is work seeks to 
make the multilateral metrology system more accessible for developing countries, and 
facilitate the global acceptance of the Metre Convention.  
b. In the regional space, the Pacific Island Forum 's Pacific Quality Infrastructure (PQI) 
Initiativ e, in which the National Measurement Institute of Australia (NMIA) has been a 
key implementation partner, focuses on capacity building with the aim of harmonising 
standards, measurement, and testing capabilities across the Pacific region. This work 
leverag es the region 's strengths and promotes collaboration between small economies 
to address shared challenges and facilitate and increase global market access.  
1.8.  A fulsome discussion of this topic would provide the opportunity to showcase this and other 
work.  
2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  Australia proposes a thematic session to highlight the role of metrology in facilitating trade, 
with a view to:  
a. Increase understanding of the contribution of metrology to addressing TBT issues;  
b. Highlight existing barriers to full participation in th e international metrology system; 
and 
c. Explore practices to overcome those barriers and encourage full participation, including 
showcasing initiatives underway or in development and identifying further 
opportunities.  
 
4 WTO TBT Agreement Art 11.6.  
5 See G/TBT/1/Rev.14 , p. 49.  
6 WT/MIN(24)/36 . G/TBT/W/801  
 
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  2.2.  Australia suggests participation from a diverse range of speakers, particularly:  
a. Speakers from developing and least -developed countries (LDCs);  
b. Speakers from the multilateral metrology system;  
c. Speakers from Members engaged in technical assistance work.  
2.3.  It would be particularly relevant to consid er holding this thematic session in November 2025, 
noting that 2025 is the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention and at this stage it is anticipated 
that the BIPM 's considerations regarding implementation of Resolution 6 of the 27th CGPM would be 
well enough developed as a proposal to be a topic for discussion on the thematic session agenda.  
 
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