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However, revision of the Convention in 1921 had enabled the scope of the
work to be extended, and in 1927 the CIPM had begun the practice of establishing
Consultative Committees (CCs) to assist it in specific fields of metrology.
Since 1950 progress under the Metre Convention has greatly accelerated.
An international practical system of units was agreed to during the 1950s
and given the title Système International d'Unités (SI) by the 11th CGPM in 1960. The number of CCs has grown from three to ten, one of the
newer ones being responsible for the important and very different field
of metrology in chemistry. Moreover, each CC has become the main technical
meeting ground for the leading national metrology institutes (NMIs) in
its field. The CIPM has also recognised a need for improved communication
with the NMIs on broader issues and begun convening periodic meetings of
the Directors of NMIs with CIPM representatives and senior BIPM staff.
The half-century under review has seen the establishment of the OIML in
1955 to facilitate international collaboration in legal metrology and of
ILAC in 1977 to foster international harmonisation in the field of laboratory
accreditation. Representatives of CIPM,CIML and ILAC now meet regularly
to pursue issues of common concern.
The BIPM now has a broadened mission and hasdeveloped considerably in size
and staff qualifications.
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The CIPM regards RMOs as being vital elements in its global strategy, working
Collaboratively with the BIPM and with each other. The task of international
coordination is simply too large to be the responsibility of the BIPM alone.
Moreover, the RMOs provide an entry point for nations and economies that
are not yet signatories to the Metre Convention; they are often best placed
to assist developing NMIs with training courses and consultants; and they
can deal with issues that are of regional rather than global concern.
The recently developed Mutual Recognition Arrangement is an outstanding
example of collaboration by the NMIs, the BIPM and the RMOs. I encourage
all member economies of APMP to become signatories to it, either as a member
state of the Metre Convention or as an associate of the CGPM. It is a most
important initiative and will for the first time make publicly available
a comprehensive statement of the degree of equivalence of the standards
and certificates of NMIs around the world.
In conclusion, I congratulate the APMP on its impressive contributions
to the attainment of regional and global uniformity of measurement, and
I wish it continued success in the future.
january,2000
W.R.Blevin
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