Introduction

What is the OIML?

The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) is an intergovernmental treaty organization whose membership includes Member States, countries which participate actively in technical activities, and Corresponding Members, countries which join the OIML as observers. It was established in 1955 (see the Convention) in order to promote the global harmonization of legal metrology procedures. Since that time, the OIML has developed a worldwide technical structure that provides its Members with metrological guidelines for the elaboration of national and regional requirements concerning the manufacture and use of measuring instruments for legal metrology applications.

According to 2007 World Bank figures, OIML Members cover in total an astounding 86 % of the world's population and 96 % of its economy.

Definition of Legal Metrology
(OIML Publication D 1)

Legal metrology comprises all activities for which legal requirements are prescribed on measurement, units of measurement, measuring instruments and methods of measurement, these activities being performed by or on behalf of governmental authorities, in order to ensure an appropriate level of credibility of measurement results in the national regulatory environment.

It applies not only to trading parties, but also to the protection of individuals and society as a whole (e.g. law enforcement, health and safety measurements).

Legal metrology generally includes provisions related to units of measurement, to measurement results (e.g. prepackages) and to measuring instruments. These provisions cover the legal obligations related to the measurement results and the measuring instruments, as well as the legal control which is performed by or on behalf of the government.

OIML Publications

The OIML develops model regulations, International Recommendations, which provide Members with an internationally agreed-upon basis for the establishment of national legislation on various categories of measuring instruments. Given the increasing national implementation of OIML guidelines, more and more manufacturers are referring to OIML International Recommendations to ensure that their products meet international specifications for metrological performance and testing.

The main elements of an International Recommendation are Scope, application and terminology; Metrological requirements; Technical requirements; Methods and equipment for testing and verifying conformity to requirements; and the Test report format.

OIML Draft Recommendations and Documents are developed by Technical Committees or Subcommittees which are formed by the Member States. Certain international and regional institutions also participate on a consultation basis.

Structures

International Conference

OIML Member State delegations and observers from Corresponding Members and international and regional institutions in liaison assemble every four years to define general policy and budgetary lines for the Organization.

International Committee (CIML)

As the steering committee for OIML, the CIML meets annually to review the Organization's technical progress and administrative operations. The Committee is composed of one appointed representative from each OIML Member State.

On retirement from their position as CIML Member, and in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the work of the Organization, certain CIML Members are appointed Honorary CIML Members (see list).

OIML Technical Committees and Subcommittees

International consensus in the legal metrology community is reached through Technical Committees and Subcommittees, the composition of which includes representatives from Member States, international standardization and technical organizations, manufacturers' associations and regional regulatory bodies.

Under the coordination of a secretariat, experts establish international technical guidelines for the metrological performance and testing procedures of measuring instruments subject to legal controls.

Presidential Council

Working with the CIML President and Vice-Presidents, a limited number of Committee Members, appointed by the President, act as an advisory group for the President; the Council generally meets twice a year. Click here for the Council web site

Liaison Activities

Working closely with around 100 international and regional institutions having activities linked with metrology, standardization and related fields, the work of the OIML bears the trademark of a global cooperation aimed at promoting credible measurement practices.

Technical Seminars

Technical seminars are regularly organized by the BIML, often together with one or more Member States, or in conjunction with other liaison institutions and aim at highlighting advances in measurement instrumentation and metrological procedures.

Such seminars provide a valuable opportunity for government and industry exchanges and reflect the diversity of OIML activities which extend into areas such as mass, volume and pressure measurement, acoustics and vibration, prepackaging, temperature, medical instrumentation and environmental pollution.