G/TBT/GEN/148  
 
17 April 2013  
(13-2048)  Page: 1/3  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
BIPM ACTIVITIES RELEVA NT TO THE TBT COMMITTEE 
This document contains information provided by the BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et 
Measures) at the TBT Committee meeting of 6-7 March 2013 under Agenda Item 5 (Update by 
Observers). 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  The International Bureau of Weights an d Measures (BIPM) is an intergovernmental 
organization established by the Metre Convention, through which Member States act together on 
matters related to measurement science and measurement standards. There are currently 55 
Member States and a further 37 Associated States and Economies who participate in the activities of the BIPM. The mission of the BIPM is to en sure and promote the global comparability of 
measurements, including the provision of the basis for a high-level coherent international system 
of units for: 
a. Scientific discovery and innovation; 
b. Industrial manufacturing and international trade; 
c. Sustaining the quality of life and the global environment. 
1.2.  The unique role of the BIPM is based on its international and neutral character enabling it: 
a. To coordinate the realization and improvement of the world-wide measurement system 
to ensure that it delivers accurate and comparable measurement results; 
b. To undertake in its laboratories scientific and technical activities in support of this 
system that are more efficiently carri ed out on behalf of Member States; 
c. To promote the importance of metrology to science, industry and society, in particular 
through collaboration with other intergovernmental organizations and international bodies and in international fora. 
1.3.  The unique role of the BIPM enables it to achieve its mission by developing the technical and 
organizational infrastructure of the International System of Units (SI) as the basis for the world-wide traceability of measurement results. This is achieved both through technical activities in its 
laboratories and through coordination activities.  
2  CIPM MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANG EMENT (CIPM MRA) AND THE BIPM KEY 
COMPARISON DATABASE (KCDB)  
2.1.  In 1999, at the time of the 21st CGPM, the CIPM established a Mutual Recognition 
Arrangement of national measurement standards an d of calibration and measurement certificates 
issued by National Metrology Institutes. This is known as the CIPM MRA. It was formally sanctioned by Resolution 2 of the 21st CGPM, which in its Resolution 3 created the category of 
Associate State and Economy of the CGPM in order for developing States and those in transition to 
participate in the CIPM MRA. Directors of NMls participating in the CIPM MRA agree to: 
a. accept the process specified in the CIPM MRA for establishing a database, which is 
maintained by the BIPM and publicly available on the Web; G/TBT/GEN/148 
 
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  b. recognize the results of comparisons published in the database; 
c. recognize the calibration and measurement capabilities of other participating NMls as 
stated in the database. 
2.2.  The BIPM key comparison database (KCDB) is managed by the BIPM and is openly available 
on the Web. It constitutes the technical basis for the CIPM MRA, giving access to the list of 
participating laboratories, and including the results of international comparisons, once interpreted in terms of equivalence, and also the approved Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs). 
2.3.  The BIPM invites all States who currently do not participate in the activities of the BIPM to 
accede to the Metre Convention, or if their metrology systems are not yet sufficient ly mature, to 
participate as Assoc iate States of the CGPM. 
2.4.  The activities related to the Metre Conven tion underpin legal metrology, accreditation and 
many documentary standards and are a cornerstone of the global trading system. Participation can 
only be beneficial for the strengthening of the world measurement system and assist in avo iding 
technical barriers to trade. 
3  BACKGROUND AND GOVERNANCE 
3.1  Organizational structure and formal basis 3.1.  The Metre Convention was signed in Paris on 20 May 1875 and has remained unchanged 
since 1921. It is the formal intergovernmental agreement through which Member States act 
together on matters related to measurement science and measurement standards. 
3.2.  The Metre Convent ion created a permanent and scientific International Bureau of Weights 
and Measures (BIPM), located at the Pavilion de Br eteuil, Sevres, on the outskirts of Paris together 
with an organizational structure for its governance. This comprises an International Committee for 
Weights and Measures (CIPM), charged with the exclusive direction and supervision of the BIPM, placed under the authority of a General Conference on We ights and Measures (CGPM) formed by 
delegates of the governments of all the Member Stat es. The cost of operating the BIPM is voted at 
each General Conferences and distributed among th e Member States according to an agreed scale. 
At the 21st CGPM in 1999 the category of A ssociate States and Economies of the CGPM
 was 
created, giving access to a limited set of advantages associated with a lower financial contribution. 
3.2  General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) 3.3.  The mission of the CGPM as laid down in the text of the Metre Convention is to: 
a. discuss and initiate the arrangements re quired to ensure the propagation and 
improvement of the international System of Units (SI), which is the modern form of the 
metric system; 
b. confirm the results of new fundamental metrological determinations and various 
scientific resolutions of international scope; 
c. take all major decisions concerning the finance, governance and development of the 
BIPM; 
d. elect or re-elect the members of the CIPM. 
3.4.  Each CGPM now also approves a programme of work and votes a corresponding contributions 
of the BIPM for the period up to the next CGPM. 
3.5.  The CGPM acts through Resolutions voted at each Conference. Draft Resolutions are 
proposed by the CIPM or by individual governme nts and are distributed to governments in advance 
so that delegates can be given appropriate instructions. Resolutions typically address wider matters of common interest to governments relate d to international metrology. According to the 
text of the Convention, the CGPM must meet at least every six years. Typically General G/TBT/GEN/148 
 
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  Conferences take place every four years but they can take place more frequently if the need 
arises . 
3.6.  Details of Member States and Associate St ates and Economies of the CGPM are available on 
the BIPM website at: http://www.bipm.org/en/conv ention/member_states/  
3.7.  Details of the KCDB, including over 25,000 peer reviewed calibration and measurement 
capabilities, are available on the BIPM website at: http://kcdb.bipm.org/  
 
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