Resolution 6 of the 27th CGPM (2022)

On universal adherence to the Metre Convention

The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), at its 27th meeting,

recalling

• that in 1875 the High Contracting Parties desiring to ensure the international unification and the perfection of the Metric System, resolved to conclude a convention to this effect (commonly known as the Metre Convention), and as such embraced the ambition of universal participation from the outset,
• that in 1921, such ambition was embodied in the Convention under Article III that provides for any State to accede to the Convention “[…] by notifying its accession to the French Government […]”,
• the relevance and importance placed in promoting and facilitating wider participation as expressed in particular by the CGPM in:
  • Resolution 14 adopted by the CGPM at its 11th meeting (1960),
  • Resolution 2 and Resolution 3 adopted by the CGPM at its 21st meeting (1999),
  • Resolution 3 and Resolution 4 adopted by the CGPM at its 22nd meeting (2003),
  • Resolution 5, Resolution 6 and Resolution 7 adopted by the CGPM at its 23rd meeting (2007),
  • Resolution 4 and Resolution 5 adopted by the CGPM at its 24th meeting (2011), and
  • Resolution 3 adopted by the CGPM at its 26th meeting (2018),

noting that

• as a result of the Resolutions recalled above, a number of actions have been initiated by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) to facilitate wider participation,
• there has been considerable success, particularly over the last two decades since the launch of the CIPM MRA, in expanding participation, with the number of States that have acceded to the Metre Convention increasing from 48 in 1999 to 64,
• the establishment of the status of Associate of the CGPM, which enables participation by States that are not yet ready to become Member States or by Economies, has been an effective mechanism for increasing national involvement in the international metrology community and constitutes a step towards accession to the Metre Convention,
• the need for access to an effective quality infrastructure in every State will facilitate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations as part of its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

committed

• to further strengthening the role of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and to facilitate wider participation in its activities, thus achieving lasting and universal adherence to the Metre Convention,

welcoming

• the continuous efforts by the staff of the BIPM to strengthen its effectiveness and efficiency as well as the efforts made by the CIPM, Member States, Regional Metrology Organizations and individual National Metrology Institutes to encourage and facilitate wider participation,
• the support given to developing countries by other international organizations for the establishment of the metrology and wider quality infrastructure,
• the joint BIPM and International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) annual initiative celebrating World Metrology Day that has played an important role in raising awareness of the benefits of participation in the two intergovernmental organizations and in the Regional Metrology Organizations,

recognizing that

• a significant number of States still do not participate in the activities of the BIPM,
• changes to the structure of contributions and subscriptions and the accorded participation rights may help facilitate universal participation,
• such changes must be equitable to existing Member States and provide a sustainable basis for the intergovernmental organization,

invites the CIPM

• to review the membership practices of other international organizations,
• to examine the current application of Article III of the Metre Convention and report to the CGPM at its 28th meeting on how this Article might be applied in order to facilitate lasting and universal adherence to the Convention,
• to consider the implications of wider participation in the work programme and services of the BIPM,
• to propose appropriate actions for consideration by the CGPM at its 28th meeting.

DOI : 10.59161/CGPM2022RES6E