I am the Director of the BIPM, which was set up by Governments under a diplomatic treaty (the Metre Convention) in 1875. It is responsible for consistent and accurate measurement world-wide. We coordinate the work of over 200 national measurement laboratories like the NIM and NRCCRM.
The BIPM is a small laboratory near Paris and we hold regular meetings of all the world's experts to agree on what must be done at the international level to set the framework for the equivalence of measurements world-wide and for their mutual acceptance by each economy.
The BIPM is supported by 67 Governments, and the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) – our "Board of Directors" – is a group of 18 of the world's most senior metrologists, including Professor Gao Jie from China.
The BIPM and the Metre Convention originally dealt with physics and engineering. In these areas we are now addressing needs for accurate measurement which include nanotechnology, precision engineering, and more accurate time measurement for applications, for example, in aircraft navigation. But the biggest new area of activity for us is in chemistry, especially measurements for the environment, human health, medicine and food. Here we have agreements with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (for example, with the Codex Alimentarius Commission).
We also have close relationship with standards bodies like ISO (the International Organization for Standardization), which relies on us to agree on measurements standards and, very importantly, the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO is important because, if the results of measurements are not accepted world-wide, there are, potentially, technical barriers to trade and restrictions on exports.
In response we launched a world-wide, formal system, for recognising measurements made in nearly 300 national metrology laboratories and many thousands of industrial laboratories. This Arrangement (the CIPM MRA) has now been signed by all the world's major trading economies and has a direct impact on over 80 % of world trade. Economic analysis shows that the investment, by Governments, in metrology produces economic rates of return of several hundred percent. This is bigger than nearly all other Government investments in sciences and technology but is often overlooked because it does not have the same glamour as some of other areas of science.
I conclude with two final points:
- The BIPM is small and so we need the support of economies at a regional level. There are five of these and the Asia Pacific Region is one of the most active – which is why we are all here. Mr Lam (APMP Chairperson) may want to tell you something about the work of this region.
- I was interested to hear Minister Li from AQSIQ, emphasize the importance to China of international collaboration and exchange of experiences. Although I have two Chinese scientists on the BIPM's permanent staff, there is no-one from China in the big growth area of chemical and medical metrology. Some other countries have arranged for one of their scientists to spend a year or so working with us in this important area. I was very impressed, yesterday, to see the work of the NRCCRM in chemistry. I would therefore like to invite you to arrange for one of their scientists or one of the NIM experts to work at BIPM for a few years. We would be honoured and delighted to cooperate with you.
A.J. Wallard
29 October 2004
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Summary
