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{{outline|Introduction to the metric system}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}}
[[File:Convention du Mètre.png|thumb|350px|Metre Convention signatories: {{Legend|red|Member states}}{{Legend|LightPink|Associates}}{{Legend|DarkGreen|Former member states}}]]
'''Metre Convention''' ({{lang-fr|link=no|Convention du Mètre}}), also known as the '''Treaty of the Metre''',<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/378767/Treaty-of-the-Metre
|title = Treaty of the Metre
|publisher = [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]
|accessdate = 28 March 2013
|year = 2013}}</ref> is an [[international treaty]] that was signed in Paris on 20 May 1875 by representatives of 17 nations. The treaty set up an institute for the purpose of coordinating international [[metrology]] and for coordinating the development of the [[metric system]].  The treaty also set up associated organizations to oversee the running of the institute. Initially it was only concerned with the units of mass and length but, in 1921, at the 6th meeting of the [[General Conference on Weights and Measures]] (CGPM), it was revised and its mandate extended to cover all physical measurements. In 1960, at the 11th meetings of the CGPM, the system of units it had established was overhauled and relaunched as the "[[International System of Units]]" (SI).

The Convention created three main [[international organization]]s:
*The CGPM (''Conférence générale des poids et mesures'')&nbsp;– a meeting every four to six years of delegates from all member states.
*The [[International Committee for Weights and Measures]] (''Comité international des poids et mesures'' or CIPM)&nbsp;– an advisory body to the CGPM consisting of 18 prominent metrologists from 18 different countries.
*The [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures]] (''Bureau international des poids et mesures'' or BIPM)&nbsp;– an organisation based at [[Sèvres]], France that has custody of the [[Kilogram#International prototype kilogram|International Prototype Kilogram]], provides metrology services for the GCPM and CIPM, houses the secretariat for these organisations and hosts their formal meetings.

Membership of the convention is restricted to countries who have [[diplomatic relations]] with France, but in 1999 the category of associate membership was introduced for those nations that wished to partake in the [[calibration]] and [[measurement]] aspects of the [[CIPM Mutual Recognition Agreement]] (CIPM-MRA) program without taking part in the activities of the BIPM.

==Background==
[[File:Poids et mesures.png|thumb|250px|Woodcut dated 1800 illustrating the new decimal units which became the legal norm across all France on 4 November 1800]]
In England in 1215, clause 25 of the [[Magna Carta]] set out the standards of measure that were to be applied throughout the realm prefixed. The wording of the clause emphasised that "There is to be a single measure ... throughout our realm".<ref>{{cite document
|url = http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/translation.html
|title = Magna Carta
|year = 1215
|location = Runnymede
|editor-first =  Nicholas
|editor-last = Vincent
|language = English
|accessdate = 30 September 2012}}</ref> Five centuries later, when in 1707 England and Scotland were [[Acts of Union 1707|united]] into a single kingdom, the Scots agreed to use the same units of measure that were already established in England.<ref>[[s:Act of Union 1707|Act of Union 1707]], Article 3</ref> During the eighteenth century, in order to facilitate trade, [[Peter the Great]], Czar of Russia adopted the English system of measure.<ref>{{cite book
|first1 = Thomas
|last1 = McGreevy
|title = The Basis of Measurement: Volume 1 – Historical Aspects
|page = 166
|isbn = 0 948251 82 4
|year = 1995
|publisher = Pitcon Publishing (Chippenham) Ltd}}</ref>

Abuse of units of measures were one of the causes of the [[French Revolution]] and its reform was one of the items on the agenda of [[National Assembly (French Revolution)|National Assembly]].  [[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord|Talleyrand]], an influential leader of the Assembly invited British and American participation in the establishment of a new system, but in the event, the Assembly went it alone and introduced the [[metre]] and the [[kilogram]] which were to form the basis of the metric system, manufacturing prototypes which, in 1799, were lodged with Archives.<ref name= McGreevy1/>

Between 1850 and 1870, a number of countries adopted the metric system as their system of measure including Spain, many South American republics and many of the Italian and German states (the Netherlands had adopted the system in 1817).  In 1863, the [[International Postal Union]] used grams to express permitted weights of letters.

In the 1860s, inspections of the prototype metre revealed wear and tear at the measuring faces of the bar and also that the bar was wont to flex slightly when in use.<ref name= McGreevy1>{{cite book
|first1 = Thomas
|last1 = McGreevy
|title = The Basis of Measurement: Volume 1 – Historical Aspects
|pages = 145, 151
|isbn = 0 948251 82 4
|year = 1995
|publisher = Pitcon Publishing (Chippenham) Ltd}}</ref> In view of the doubts being cast on the reproducibility of the metre and the kilogram and the threat that a rival standard might be set up, [[Napoleon III]] invited scientists from all the world's nations to attend a conference in Paris.  In July 1870, two weeks before the conference was due to start, the [[Franco-Prussian War]] broke out.  Although the delegates ''did'' meet (without a German delegation), it was agreed that the conference should be recalled once all the delegates (including the German delegation) were present.

France was defeated in the war, Napoleon went into exile and Germany and Italy, now unified nations, adopted the metric system as their national system of units, but with the prototype copy of the kilogram and metre under the control of the [[Third French Republic]]. In 1872 the new republican government reissued the invitations and in 1875 scientists from thirty European and American countries met in Paris.<ref>{{cite book
|title = The Measure of all Things – The Seven-Year-Odyssey that Transformed the World
|last= Alder
|first= Ken
|year= 2002
|pages = 348–354
|publisher= Abacus
|location= London
|isbn= 0 349 11507 9}}</ref>

==The 1875 Conference==
The principal tasks facing the delegates at the 1875 conference was the replacement of the existing metre and kilogram artefacts that were held by the French Government and the setting up of an organisation to administer the maintenance of standards around the globe.  The conference did not concern itself with other units of measure. The conference had undertones of Franco-German political manoeuvring, particularly since the French had been humiliated by the Prussians during the war a few years previously. Although France lost control of the metric system, they ensured that it passed to international rather than German control and that the international headquarters were based in Paris.<ref name=Adler/>

===Reference standards===
[[Image:Platinum-Iridium meter bar.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Historical ''[[International Prototype Meter|International Prototype Metre]]'' bar, made of an alloy of platinum and iridium, that was the standard from 1889 to 1960.]]
The conference was called to discuss the maintenance of international standards based on the existing French standards rather than using French standards which, at that time, were 70 years old and which, through wear and tear, might not be exactly the same as when they adopted in 1799.

Prior to the 1870 conference, French politicians had feared that the world community might reject the existing metre as it was 0.03% (300&nbsp;µm) shorter than its design length, ordering a new [[Zonal and meridional|meridional]] measurement. They were eventually reassured when the German-born Swiss delegate [[Adolphe Hirsch]] said "no serious scientist would in our day and age contemplate a metre deduced from the size of the earth". When the conference was reconvened in 1875, it was proposed that new prototype metre and kilogram standards be manufactured to reproduce the values of the existing artifacts as closely as possible.<ref name=Adler>{{cite book
|title = The Measure of all Things – The Seven-Year-Odyssey that Transformed the World
|last= Alder
|first= Ken
|year= 2002
|page = 354
|publisher= Abacus
|location= London
|isbn= 0 349 11507 9}}</ref>

Although the new standard metre had the same value as the old metre, it had an [[Henri Tresca|"X" cross-section]] rather than a rectangular cross-section as this reduced the flexing when taking measurements.  Moreover, the new bar, rather than being exactly one metre in length was a little longer than one metre and had lines engraved on them that were exactly one metre apart.<ref>{{cite book
|first1 = Thomas
|last1 = McGreevy
|title = The Basis of Measurement: Volume 1 – Historical Aspects
|pages = 150–151
|isbn = 0 948251 82 4
|year = 1995
|publisher = Pitcon Publishing (Chippenham) Ltd}}</ref> The London firm [[Johnson Matthey]] delivered 30 prototype metres and 40 prototype kilograms. At the first meeting of the [[CGPM]] in 1889 bar No.&nbsp;6 and cylinder No.&nbsp;X were chosen by lot as the international prototypes. The remainder were either kept as BIPM working copies or distributed by lot to member states as national prototypes.<ref>{{cite journal
|last1=  Jabbour
|first1= Z.J.
|last2= Yaniv
|first2= S.L.
|year= 2001
|title= The Kilogram and Measurements of Mass and Force
|journal= J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol.
|volume= 106
|issue= 1
|pages= 25–46
|publisher= [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] (NIST)
|url= http://nvl.nist.gov/pub/nistpubs/jres/106/1/j61jab.pdf
|accessdate= 28 March 2011
|doi=10.6028/jres.106.003}}</ref>
The metre was retained as the international standard until 1960 when the metre was redefined in terms of the wavelength of the orange-red line of [[krypton]]-86. In 2014 after the 25th [[General Conference on Weights and Measures|CGPM]], the prototype kilogram was still in use. It is expected to be replaced by a [[New SI definitions|new definition]] within the next few years, though not before the next CGPM in 2018.

===Organisations===
The Convention created three main [[international organization|organizations]] to facilitate the standardisation of weights and measures around the world.  The first, the CGPM provided a forum for representative of member states, the second, the CIPM was an advisory committee of metrologists of high standing and the third, the BIPM was an institute that provided appropriate secretarial and laboratory facilities in support of the CGPM and CIPM.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/
|title=The Metre Convention
|publisher=Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
|date=
|accessdate=1 October 2012}}</ref>

The structure may be compared to a [[corporation]].  The BIPM are the officers and employees, the CIPM is the [[board of directors]], and the CGPM is the [[shareholders' meeting]].

====General Conference on Weights and Measures====
The [[General Conference on Weights and Measures]] (''Conférence générale des poids et mesures'' or CGPM) is the principal decision-making body put on place by the convention. It is made up of delegates from member states and [non-voting] observers from associate states.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/cgpm/
|title = General Conference on Weights and Measures
|year = 2011
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
|accessdate = 26 September 2012}}</ref> The conference usually meets every four to six years to receive and discuss a report from the CIPM and to endorse new developments in the SI on the advice of the CIPM though at the 2011 meeting, it agreed to meet again in 2014 rather than 2015 to discuss the maturity of the [[New SI definitions|new SI proposals]].<ref name="bipm.org">{{cite press release
| url = http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/Press_release_resolution_1_CGPM.pdf
| title = General Conference on Weights and Measures approves possible changes to the International System of Units, including redefinition of the kilogram.
| publisher = [[General Conference on Weights and Measures]]
| location = Sèvres, France
| date = 23 October 2011
| accessdate = 25 October 2011}}</ref> It is also responsible for new appointments to the CIPM and decides on major issues concerning the development and financing of the BIPM.

====International Committee for Weights and Measures====
[[File:Metric seal.svg|thumb|200px|Seal of the BIPM]]
The [[International Committee for Weights and Measures]] (''Comité international des poids et mesures'' or CIPM) is made up of eighteen (originally fourteen)<ref>Convention of the Metre (1875), Appendix 1 (Regulation), Article 8</ref> individuals from a member state of high scientific standing, nominated by the CGPM to advise the CGPM on administrative and technical matters.  It is responsible for the running of ten consultative committees (CCs), each of which investigates different aspects of metrology – one CC discusses the measurement of temperature, another the measurement of mass and so on. The CIPM meets annually at Sèvres to discuss annual reports from the various CCs, to submit an annual report to the governments of member states in respect of the administration and finances of the BIPM and to advise the CGPM on technical matters as and when necessary. Each member of the CIPM is from a different member state – with France, in recognition of its work in setting up the Convention, always having one seat on the CIPM.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/committees/cipm/
|title = CIPM: International Committee for Weights and Measures
|year = 2011
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
|accessdate = 26 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/committees/cipm/cipm_criteria.html
|title = Criteria for membership of the CIPM
|year = 2011
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
|accessdate = 26 September 2012}}</ref>

====International Bureau of Weights and Measures====
The [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures]] (''Bureau international des poids et mesures'' or BIPM) is an organisation based at Sèvres, France that has custody of the [[Kilogram#International prototype kilogram|International Prototype Kilogram]], provides [[metrology]] services for the GCPM and CIPM, houses the secretariat for these organisations and hosts their formal meetings. It also has custody of the former [[International Prototype Metre]] which was retired in 1960. Over the years the various international prototype metres and kilograms were returned to BIPM headquarters for recalibration services.

Initially it has a staff of 9, falling to 4 once the initial batch of prototypes had been distributed;<ref>Convention of the Metre (1875), Appendix 1 (Regulation), Article 6</ref> in 2012 it has a staff of over 70 people and a budget of over €10 million.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/bipm/
|title = The BIPM headquarters
|year = 2011
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
|accessdate = 26 September 2012}}</ref> The director of the BIPM is ''ex-officio'' a member of the CIPM and a member of all consultative committees.

===Headquarters, language and protocol===
[[File:BIPM courtyard.jpg|thumb|260px|Pavillon de Breteuil]]
The original treaty was written in French and the authoritative language of all official documents is French. Communication between the BIPM and member states is, in the case of France, via the French Foreign Minister and in the case of all other members, via the members' ambassador to France.<ref>Convention of the Metre, Appendix 1 (Regulations), Articles 16 and 19</ref>

The French government offered the treaty members the [[Pavillon de Breteuil]] in Sèvres to house the BIPM. The pavillon was originally built in 1675 on the estate of the Château de Saint-Cloud and was home to, amongst others, [[Napoleon III|Emperor Napoleon III]].  The château was all but destroyed during the [[Franco-Prussian War]] (1870–1) and the pavillon badly damaged.<ref>{{cite web
|title = The BIPM headquarters
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/bipm/
|accessdate = 27 September 2012
|publisher = [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures]]}}</ref> The pavillon has been fully restored and, as headquarters of an [[intergovernmental organization]] has [[extraterritorial rights]] (similar to those enjoyed by embassies).<ref>{{cite web
|title = Protocol
|url = http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/spip.php?page=article_imprim&id_article=15045
|accessdate = 27 September 2012
|publisher = [[Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (France)|Ministère Affaires étrangères, Republique Francaise]] [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of France]
|date = 10 January 2011}}</ref>

==Post 1875 developments==
The science of metrology has increased vastly since 1875.  In particular the treaty was amended in 1921 with the result that many other international organisations have a forum within the CIPM to ensure harmonisation of measurement standards across many [[Academic discipline|disciplines]].  In addition, what was originally conceived as standards for the purposes of trade has now been extended to cover a large number of aspects of human activity including medicine, science, engineering and technology.

===Extensions to the treaty (1921) and development of SI===
{{main|International System of Units}}
The metre convention was originally drawn up with the main purpose of providing a standards of length and mass only.  Standards relating to other quantities were under the control of other bodies – time was measured by [[astronomer]]s, electrical units by a series of ad-hoc international conferences,<ref>{{cite web
|title = System of Measurement Units
|url = http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/System_of_Measurement_Units
|accessdate = 1 October 2012
|publisher = [[IEEE]]}}</ref> and other physical standards and concepts were maintained or defined by international bodies such as [[International Congress of Applied Chemistry]] or the [[International Union of Pure and Applied Physics]].

[[Image:SI Brochure Cover.jpg|frame|left|Cover of brochure ''[http://www.bipm.org/en/publications/brochure/ The International System of Units] – the definitive description of the system'']]
In 1901 [[Giovanni Giorgi|Giorgi]] published a proposal for building a coherent set of units based on four base units – the metre, kilogram, second and one electrical unit ([[ampere]], [[volt]] or [[ohm]]). In 1921 the Convention was extended to permit the promotion of standards relating to any physical quantity which greatly increased the scope of the CIPM's remit and implicitly giving it freedom to exploit Giorgi's proposals. The 8th CGPM (1933) resolved to work with other international bodies to agree standards for electrical units that could be related back to the international prototypes.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/CGPM/db/8/10/
|title = Résolution 10 de la 8e réunion de la CGPM (1933) – Substitution des unités électriques absolues aux unités dites " internationales "
|trans_title = Resolution 10 of the 8th meeting of the CGPM (1933) – Substitution of the so-called "International" electrical units by absolute electrical units
|language = French
|year = 1935
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Meseures
|accessdate = 2 October 2012}}</ref> This was agreed in principle by the International Electrotechnical Commission at its congress in Brussels in 1935 subject to the choice of the fourth unit being agreed with, amongst others, the appropriate consultative committee of the CIPM.<ref>{{cite journal
|first = Arthur E
|last = Kennelly
|title = Adoption of the Metre-Kilogram-Mass-Second (M.K.S.) Absolute System of Practical Units by the International Electrotechnical Commission (I.E.C.), Bruxelles, June, 1935
|journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|date = 21 October 1935
|volume = 21
|number = 10
|pages = 579–583
|doi=10.1073/pnas.21.10.579}}</ref>

In 1948, three years after the end of the [[Second World War]] and fifteen years after the 8th CGPM, the 9th CGPM was convened. In response to formal requests made by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and by the French Government to establish a practical system of units of measure, the CGPM requested the CIPM to prepare recommendations for a single practical system of units of measurement, suitable for adoption by all countries adhering to the Metre Convention.<ref>{{cite conference
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/CGPM/db/9/6/
|title = Resolution 6 – Proposal for establishing a practical system of units of measurement
|conference = 9th Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures (CGPM)
|date = 12–21 October 1948
|accessdate = 8 May 2011}}</ref> At the same time the CGPM formally adopted a recommendation for the writing and printing of unit symbols and of numbers.<ref>{{cite conference
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/CGPM/db/9/7/
|title = Resolution 7 – Writing and printing of unit symbols and of numbers
|conference = 9th Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures (CGPM)
|date = 12–21 October 1948
|accessdate = 8 May 2011}}</ref> The recommendation also catalogued the recommended symbols for the most important [[MKS system of units|MKS]] and [[Centimetre gram second system of units|CGS]] units of measure and for the first time the CGPM made recommendations concerning derived units.

The CIPM's draft proposal, which was an extensive revision and simplification of the metric unit definitions, symbols and terminology based on the MKS system of units, was put to the 10th CGPM in 1954. In the proposal the CIPM recommended that the ampere be the base unit from which electromechanical would be derived. After negotiations with the CIS and IUPAP, two further base units, the degree kelvin and the candela were also proposed as base units.<ref>{{cite conference
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/CGPM/db/10/6/
|title = Resolution 6 – Practical system of units
|conference = 10th Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures (CGPM)
|date = 5–14 October 1954
|accessdate = 8 May 2011}}</ref> The full system and name "Système International d'Unités" were adopted at the 11th CGPM.<ref>{{cite conference
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/CGPM/db/11/12/
|title = Resolution 12 – Système International d'Unités
|conference = 11th Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures (CGPM)
|date = 11–20 October 1960
|accessdate = 8 May 2011}}</ref> During the years that followed the definitions of the base units and particularly the ''mise en pratique''<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/appendix2/
|title = Practical realization of the definitions of some important units
|work = SI brochure, Appendix 2
|publisher = BIPM
|date = 9 September 2010
|accessdate = 5 May 2011}}</ref> to realise these definitions have been refined.

The formal definition of International System of Units (SI) along with the associated resolutions passed by the CGPM and the CIPM are published by the BIPM on the Internet and in brochure form at regular intervals. The eighth edition of the brochure ''Le Système International d'Unités – The International System of Units'' was published in 2006.<ref>{{SIbrochure8th}}</ref>

===MRA program===
[[File:CIPM-MRA-logo.jpg|thumb|Logo used by laboratories that have been accredited under the CIPM MRA scheme]]
During the 1940s, the United States government recognised the benefits of its suppliers keeping [[quality control]] records in respect of manufactured goods that would provide traceability of the process. This process was formalised by the British Government and in 1979 as the quality control standard [[BS 5750|BS&nbsp;5750]]. In 1987 BS&nbsp;5750 was adopted by [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] as the basis for [[ISO 9000]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bsieducation.org/Education/HE/quality-management/quality-management.shtml
|title = BSI Education: Quality Management Systems
|accessdate = 2 October 2012
|year = 2008
|publisher = [[British Standards Institution]] (BSI)}}</ref> ISO 9000 is a general purpose quality control standard which works in conjunction industry-specific standards: for example ISO 15195:2003 which gives the specific requirements for reference measurement laboratories in laboratory medicine.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=38363
|title = ISO 15195:2003 – Laboratory medicine – Requirements for reference measurement laboratories
|publisher = [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO)
|accessdate = 2 October 2012}}</ref>

International trade is hampered by one country not recognising the quality controls in place in other countries – often due to standards being different or being incompatible with each other. At the 20th CGPM (1995), it was recognised that although ad-hoc recognition of instrument calibration between cooperating countries had been taking place for a hundred years, a need had arisen for a more comprehensive agreement.  Consequently, the CIPM was mandated to investigate the setting up of a [[Mutual Recognition Agreement]] in respect of instrument calibration. Any such agreement would require the keeping of records that could demonstrate the traceability of calibrations back to the base standards. Such records would be recorded within an ISO&nbsp;9000 framework. Four years later, in 1999 the text of the CIPM-MRA was agreed at the 21st CGPM.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/cipm-mra/historical.html
|title = Historical development of the CIPM MRA
|accessdate = 2 October 2012
|publisher = [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|Bureau International des Poids et Mesures]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/cipm-mra/mra_online.html
|title = Text of the CIPM MRA
|accessdate = 15 October 2012
|publisher = [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|Bureau International des Poids et Mesures]]
|year = 2003}}</ref>

The CIPM-MRA scheme is to catalogue the capabilities of National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) such as [[National Institute of Standards and Technology|NIST]] in the United States or the [[National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom)|National Physical Laboratory]] in the United Kingdom whose calibration procedures have been peer-assessed. The essential points of CIPM-MRA are:<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/cipm-mra/objectives.html
|title = The essential points of the CIPM MRA
|publisher = [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|Bureau International des Poids et Mesures]]
|accessdate = 2 October 2012}}</ref>
*The agreement is only open to countries that have signed the Metre Convention, either as full or as associate members.
*A country may have more than one NMI, though only one NMI is chosen as the signatory organisation.
*The measurement capabilituies of NMI's will be peer-reviewed at regular intervals and each NMI will recognise the measurement capabilities of other NMIs.
*The BIPM maintains a publicly available database of the measurement capabilities of each NMI.
*NMI's

Subsequent to launch of the CIPM MRA and in response to a [[European Community]] [[Directive (European Union)|directive]] on ''in vitro'' medical devices,<ref>{{cite EU directive
| serial      = 98/79/EC
| date        = 27 October 1998
| description = on in vitro diagnostic medical devices
| eurlextag   = OJ:L:1998:331:0001:0037:EN:PDF
}}</ref> the [[Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine]] (JCTLM) was created in 2002 through a Declaration of Cooperation between the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM), the [[International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine]] (IFCC), and the [[International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation]] (ILAC).<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/committees/jc/jctlm/
|title = JCTLM: Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine
|publisher = [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|Bureau International des Poids et Mesures]]
|accessdate = 2 October 2012}}</ref> The joint committee provides a forum for the harmonisation of standards of the various participants.

===Coordination of International Atomic Time===
With the advent of the [[atomic clock]] it has been possible to define and measure [[International Atomic Time]] with sufficient precision that variations in the [[Earth's rotation]] can be detected. The [[International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service|International Earth Rotation Service]] monitors these changes relative to the stars at regular intervals and proposes leap seconds as and when these are needed. Currently there are over 200 atomic clocks in over 50 national laboratories around the world and the BIPM, in terms of the mandate given to it under the Metre Convention, coordinates the various atomic clocks.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/scientific/tai/tai.html
|title = International Atomic Time
|publisher = [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|Bureau International des Poids et Mesures]]
|accessdate = 21 October 2012}}</ref>

===New SI===
{{Main|Proposed redefinition of SI base units}}
[[File:Relations between New SI units definitions.svg|thumb|250 px | Relations between proposed SI units definitions (in color) and with seven fundamental constants of nature (in grey) with fixed numerical values in the proposed system.]]
Since 1960, when the definition of the metre was linked to a particular wavelength of light rather than the international prototype metre, the only unit of measure that has been dependent on a particular artifact has been the kilogram. Over the years, small drifts which could be as high as {{gaps|20|×|10<sup>−9</sup>}} kilograms per annum in the mass of the international prototype kilogram have been detected.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://physics.vniim.ru/SI50/files/mohr.pdf
|author = Peter Mohr
|title = Recent progress in fundamental constants and the International System of Units
|work = Third Workshop on Precision Physics and Fundamental Physical Constants
|date = 6 December 2010
|accessdate = 2 January 2011}}</ref> At the 21st meeting of the GCPM (1999), national laboratories were urged to investigate ways of breaking the link between the kilogram and a specific artifact.

Independently of this drift having been identified, the [[Avogadro constant#International Avogadro Coordination|Avogadro project]] and development of the [[Watt balance]] promised methods of indirectly measuring mass with a very high precision.  These projects provided tools that would enable alternative means of redefining the kilogram.<ref name=Crease>{{cite web
|url = http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/indepth/2011/mar/22/metrology-in-the-balance
|title = Metrology in the balance
|first1 = Robert P
|last1 = Crease
|accessdate = 28 June 2012
|work = Physics World
|publisher = [[Institute of Physics]]
|date = 22 March 2011}}</ref>

A report published in 2007 by the Consultative Committee for Thermometry to the CIPM noted that their current definition of temperature has proved to be unsatisfactory for temperatures below 20&nbsp;K and for temperatures above 1300&nbsp;K. The committee was of the view that the [[Boltzmann constant]] provided a better basis for temperature measurement than did the [[triple point]] of water, as it overcame these difficulties.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/wg/CCT/TG-SI/Allowed/Documents/Report_to_CIPM_2.pdf
|title = Report to the CIPM on the implications of changing the definition of the base unit kelvin
|author = Fischer, J.|date = 2 May 2007
|accessdate = 2 January 2011|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

At its 23rd meeting (2007), the CGPM mandated the CIPM to investigate the use of natural constants as the basis for all units of measure rather than the artifacts that were then in use. The following year this was endorsed by the [[International Union of Pure and Applied Physics]] (IUPAP).<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.iupap.org/ga/ga26/sunamcorpt.pdf
|title = Resolution proposal submitted to the IUPAP Assembly by Commission C2 (SUNAMCO)
|publisher = International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
|year = 2008
|accessdate = 8 May 2011}}</ref> In 2011 CIPM presented a resolution for consideration at the 24th CGPM to agree in principle the new definitions that had been proposed the previous year by the Consultative Committee for Units,<ref name="draft">{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/si_brochure_draft_ch2.pdf
|title = Draft Chapter 2 for SI Brochure, following redefinitions of the base units
|author = Ian Mills
|publisher = CCU
|date = 29 September 2010
|accessdate = 1 January 2011}}</ref> but not to implement them until the details have been finalised.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/24_CGPM_Convocation_Draft_Resolution_A.pdf
|title = On the possible future revision of the International System of Units, the SI – Draft Resolution A
|publisher = [[International Committee for Weights and Measures]] (CIPM)
|accessdate = 14 July 2011}}</ref> This resolution was accepted by the conference,<ref>{{cite document
|contribution = Resolution 1 of 24th meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures
|title = On the possible future revision of the International System of Units, the SI
| url = http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/24_CGPM_Resolution_1.pdf
| publisher = International Bureau for Weights and Measures
|location = Sèvres, France
|date=21 October 2011}}</ref> and in addition the CGPM moved the date of the 25th meeting forward from 2015 to 2014 when it is hoped to implement these proposals.<ref name="bipm.org"/>

==Membership==
The CGPM recognises two classes of membership – full membership for those states that wish to participate in the activities of the BIPM and associate membership for those countries or economies<ref group = Note>As of 2012, the only "economy" that was an associate member was CARICOM (Caribbean Community) – its membership comprising [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]], [[Barbados]], [[Saint Lucia]], [[Belize]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[Dominica]], [[Suriname]], [[Grenada]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]] and [[Guyana]].  [[Jamaica]], although also a member of CARICOM, is an associate of the CGPM in its own right.</ref> that only wish to participate in the [[Mutual recognition agreement|MRA]] program. Associate members have observer status at the CGPM. Since all formal liaison between the convention organisations and national governments is handled by the member state's ambassador to France,<ref group = Note>In the case of France, the French Foreign Minister</ref> it is implicit that member states must have diplomatic relations with France,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/cgpm/
|title = General Conference on Weights and Measures
|year = 2011
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
|accessdate = 30 September 2012}}</ref> though during both world wars, nations that were at war with France retained their membership of the CGPM.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/CIPM-history-EN.pdf
|title = Members of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM)
|accessdate = 3 October 2012
|date = October 2011
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures}}</ref> The opening session of each CGPM is chaired by the French foreign minister and subsequent sessions by the [[French Academy of Sciences|Président de l'Académie des Sciences de Paris]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.french-metrology.com/en/international-activities/organisations/metre-convention.asp
|title = The Metre Convention
|publisher = La métrologie française
|year = 2012
|accessdate = 3 October 2012}}</ref>

On 20 May 1875 representatives from seventeen of countries that attended the Conference of the Metre in 1875, signed the Convention of the Metre.<ref group = Note>[[Argentina]], [[Austria-Hungary]], [[Belgium]], [[Empire of Brazil|Brazil]], [[Denmark]], [[French Third Republic|France]], [[German Empire]], [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]], [[Peru]], [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]], [[Spain under the Restoration|Spain]], [[Sweden and Norway]], [[Switzerland]], [[Ottoman Empire]], United States and [[Venezuela]].</ref> In April 1884 HJ Chaney, Warden of Standards in London unofficially contacted the BIPM inquiring whether the BIPM would calibrate some metre standards that had been manufactured in the United Kingdom. [[Ole Jacob Broch|Broch]], director of the BIPM replied that he was not authorised to perform any such calibrations for non-member states. On 17 September 1884, the British Government signed the convention on behalf of the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite book
|title = From Artefacts to Atoms: The Bipm and the Search for Ultimate Measurement Standard
|first1 = Terry
|last1 = Quinn
|pages = 133–135
|isbn = 978-0-19-530786-3
|publisher = [[Oxford University Press]]
|year = 2012
|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jlM907kFhcgC&pg=PA127&lpg=PA127&dq=metre++quinn+1883+cipm&source=bl&ots=ossxSNhAl7&sig=nOv7pAM4dhOmODkOstQG3fs4Prw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xg5sUJ-vJIT80QWwyoHYCA&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=metre%20%20quinn%201883%20cipm&f=false}}</ref> This number grew to 21 in 1900, 32 in 1950, and 49 in 2001. {{As of|2014|7|21}}, the General Conference membership was made up of 56 Member States, 41 Associate States and Economies and four international organisations as follows (with year of partnership between brackets):<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/member_states/
|title = Member States and Associates
|year = 2013
|publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
|accessdate = 14 August 2013}}</ref>

===Member states===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Year of partnership
!Notes
|-
|{{flagcountry|Argentina|size=16x15px}}
|1877
|-
|{{flagcountry|Australia|size=16x15px}}
|1947
|-
|{{flagcountry|Austria|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|Joined originally as [[Austria-Hungary]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|Belgium|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|-
|{{flagcountry|Brazil|size=16x15px}}
|1921
|-
|{{flagcountry|Bulgaria|size=16x15px}}
|1911
|-
|{{flagcountry|Canada|size=16x15px}}
|1907
|-
|{{flagcountry|Chile|size=16x15px}}
|1908
|-
|{{flagcountry|China|size=16x15px}}
|1977
|-
|{{flagcountry|Colombia|size=16x15px}}
|2013
|-
|{{flagcountry|Croatia|size=16x15px}}
|2008
|-
|{{flagcountry|Czech Republic|size=16x15px}}
|1922
|Joined originally as part of [[Czechoslovakia]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|Denmark|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|-
|{{flagcountry|Egypt|size=16x15px}}
|1962
|-
|{{flagcountry|Finland|size=16x15px}}
|1923
|-
|{{flagcountry|France|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|-
|{{flagcountry|Germany|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|Joined originally as the [[German Empire]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|Greece|size=16x15px}}
|2001
|-
|{{flagcountry|Hungary|size=16x15px}}
|1925
|-
|{{flagcountry|India|size=16x15px}}
|1957
|-
|{{flagcountry|Indonesia|size=16x15px}}
|1960
|-
|{{flagcountry|Iran|size=16x15px}}
|1975
|-
|{{flagcountry|Iraq|size=16x15px}}
|2013
|-
|{{flagcountry|Ireland|size=16x15px}}
|1925
|Joined originally as the [[Irish Free State]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|Israel|size=16x15px}}
|1985
|-
|{{flagcountry|Italy|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|-
|{{flagcountry|Japan|size=16x15px}}
|1885
|-
|{{flagcountry|Kazakhstan|size=16x15px}}
|2008
|-
|{{flagcountry|Kenya|size=16x15px}}
|2010
|-
|{{flagcountry|Malaysia|size=16x15px}}
|2001
|-
|{{flagcountry|Mexico|size=16x15px}}
|1890
|-
|{{flagcountry|Netherlands|size=16x15px}}
|1929
|-
|{{flagcountry|New Zealand|size=16x15px}}
|1991
|-
|{{flagcountry|Norway|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|Joined originally as part of [[Union between Sweden and Norway|Sweden and Norway]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|Pakistan|size=16x15px}}
|1973
|-
|{{flagcountry|Poland|size=16x15px}}
|1925
|-
|{{flagcountry|Portugal|size=16x15px}}
|1876
|-
|{{flagcountry|Romania|size=16x15px}}
|1884
|-
|{{flagcountry|Russian Federation|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|Joined originally as the [[Russian Empire]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|Saudi Arabia|size=16x15px}}
|2011
|-
|{{flagcountry|Serbia|size=16x15px}}
|1879
|Joined as the [[Principality of Serbia]] in 1879, as the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] in 1929, and as the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] in 2001<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/member_states/cs/ | title=The Republic of Serbia | publisher=BIPM official site | accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/member_states/yu/ | title=Serbia and Montenegro | publisher=BIPM official site | accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagcountry|Singapore|size=16x15px}}
|1994
|-
|{{flagcountry|Slovakia|size=16x15px}}
|1922
|Joined originally as part of [[Czechoslovakia]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|South Africa|size=16x15px}}
|1964
|-
|{{flagcountry|South Korea|size=16x15px}}
|1959
|-
|{{flagcountry|Spain|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|-
|{{flagcountry|Sweden|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|Joined originally as part of [[Union between Sweden and Norway|Sweden and Norway]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|Switzerland|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|-
|{{flagcountry|Thailand|size=16x15px}}
|1912
|-
|{{flagcountry|Tunisia|size=16x15px}}
|2012
|-
|{{flagcountry|Turkey|size=16x15px}}
|1875
|Joined originally as the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|-
|{{flagcountry|United Kingdom|size=16x15px}}
|1884
|-
|{{flagcountry|United States|size=16x15px}}
|1878
|-
|{{flagcountry|Uruguay|size=16x15px}}
|1908
|-
|{{flagcountry|Venezuela|size=16x15px}}
|1879
|}

===Associates===
At its 21st meeting (October 1999), the CGPM created the category of "associate" for those states not yet members of the BIPM and for [[economic union]]s.<ref>BIPM official site:[http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/member_states/join_associate.html Procedure for a State or Economy to become an Associate of the General Conference]</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Country
!Year of partnership
|-
|{{flagcountry|Albania|size=16x15px}}
|2007
|-
|{{flagcountry|Bangladesh|size=16x15px}}
|2010
|-
|{{flagcountry|Belarus|size=16x15px}}
|2003
|-
|{{flagcountry|Bolivia|size=16x15px}}
|2008
|-
|{{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina|size=16x15px}}
|2011
|-
|{{flagcountry|Botswana|size=16x15px}}
|2012
|-
|{{flagcountry|Caribbean Community|size=16x15px}}
|2005
|-
|{{flagcountry|Republic of China|name=Taiwan|size=16x15px}}
|2002
|-
|{{flagcountry|Costa Rica|size=16x15px}}
|2004
|-
|{{flagcountry|Cuba|size=16x15px}}
|2000
|-
|{{flagcountry|Ecuador|size=16x15px}}
|2000
|-
|{{flagcountry|Estonia|size=16x15px}}
|2005
|-
|{{flagcountry|Georgia|size=16x15px}}
|2008
|-
|{{flagcountry|Ghana|size=16x15px}}
|2009
|-
|{{flagcountry|Hong Kong|size=16x15px}}
|2000
|-
|{{flagcountry|Jamaica|size=16x15px}}
|2003
|-
|{{flagcountry|Latvia|size=16x15px}}
|2001
|-
|{{flagcountry|Lithuania|size=16x15px}}
|2001
|-
|{{flagcountry|Luxembourg|size=16x15px}}
|2014
|-
|{{flagcountry|Macedonia|size=16x15px}}
|2006
|-
|{{flagcountry|Malta|size=16x15px}}
|2001
|-
|{{flagcountry|Mauritius|size=16x15px}}
|2010
|-
|{{flagcountry|Moldova|size=16x15px}}
|2007
|-
|{{flagcountry|Mongolia|size=16x15px}}
|2013
|-
|{{flagcountry|Montenegro|size=16x15px}}
|2011
|-
|{{flagcountry|Namibia|size=16x15px}}
|2012
|-
|{{flagcountry|Oman|size=16x15px}}
|2012
|-
|{{flagcountry|Panama|size=16x15px}}
|2003
|-
|{{flagcountry|Paraguay|size=16x15px}}
|2009
|-
|{{flagcountry|Peru|size=16x15px}}
|2009
|-
|{{flagcountry|Philippines|size=16x15px}}
|2002
|-
|{{flagcountry|Seychelles|size=16x15px}}
|2010
|-
|{{flagcountry|Slovenia|size=16x15px}}
|2003
|-
|{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka|size=16x15px}}
|2007
|-
|{{flagcountry|Sudan|size=16x15px}}
|2014
|-
|{{flagcountry|Syria|size=16x15px}}
|2012
|-
|{{flagcountry|Ukraine|size=16x15px}}
|2002
|-
|{{flagcountry|Vietnam|size=16x15px}}
|2003
|-
|{{flagcountry|Yemen|size=16x15px}}
|2014
|-
|{{flagcountry|Zambia|size=16x15px}}
|2010
|-
|{{flagcountry|Zimbabwe|size=16x15px}}
|2010
|}

===International organisations===
The following international organisations have signed the CIPM MRA:
*[[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA), [[Vienna]], Austria (1999)
*[[Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements]] (IRMM), [[Geel]], Belgium (1999)
*[[World Meteorological Organization]] (WMO), [[Geneva]], Switzerland (2010)
*[[European Space Agency]] (ESA), Paris, France (2012)

===Former member states===
{{flagcountry|CMR|size=16x15px}} (1970–2012)<ref>International Bureau of Weights and Measures official site: [http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/member_states/cm/ The Republic of Cameroon], retrieved 4 August 2013</ref><br>
{{flagcountry|Dominican Republic|size=16x15px}} (1954-2014)<ref>{{cite web|title=BIPM - Dominican Republic  [Member State]|url=http://www.bipm.org/en/about-us/member-states/do/|website=www.bipm.org|accessdate=29 March 2017}}</ref><br>
{{flagcountry|PRK|size=16x15px}} (1982–2012)<ref>International Bureau of Weights and Measures official site: [http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/member_states/kp/ The Democratic People's Republic of Korea], retrieved 4 August 2013</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group = Note}}

==References==

===Official texts===
*[http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/metre_convention.pdf Text of the current version of the Convention (in French)]
*[http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/metric-convention.html English translation of the original text of the Convention]
*[http://www.bipm.org/en/cipm-mra/mra_online.html Text of the CIPM-MRA agreement]

===Citations===
<references/>

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