The metric convention ( Fr. Convention du Mètre ) is an international treaty that serves to ensure the unity of metrological standards in different countries . The treaty was signed in 1875 in Paris by seventeen countries, including Russia. In 1921 , minor changes were made to the treaty. Currently [1] , 60 states have joined the convention as full members and 42 states and organizations as associate members. The members of the convention are all industrialized countries [2] [3] . In accordance with the metric convention, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures ( French Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, BIPM ) and the International Committee for Weights and Scales ( French Comité International des Poids et Mesures, CIPM ) were established, and General Conferences on Weights and Weights are convened ( Fr. Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures, CGPM ). These international organizations are called upon to address standardization issues in the field of metrology.
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Signing history
From March 1 to May 20, 1875, a diplomatic conference was held in Paris ( fr. Conférence diplomatique du mètre ) with the participation of plenipotentiaries of 20 states, which ended with the signing of the Metric Convention. The metric convention was signed on May 20, 1875 in the Hall of Hours ( fr. Salon de l'Horloge ) of the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France on the Quay d'Orsay ( fr. Quai d'Orsay ) [4] . The signing was preceded by a one and a half hour meeting, which began at two in the afternoon [5] . The convention was signed by plenipotentiaries of 17 countries on behalf of the heads of the respective states. On the part of Russia, the Convention was signed by the adviser to the embassy, Grigory Okunev, on behalf of Emperor Alexander II [6] [7] .
International Bureau of Weights and Measures
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures is a permanent organization with a headquarters located in the city of Sevres, near Paris ( France ). The main task of the Bureau is to ensure the existence of a unified measurement system in all countries participating in the metric convention. For this purpose, national standards of measurement units are compared and research in the field of metrology is carried out aimed at increasing the measurement accuracy. The office is funded by member states of the metric convention.
International Committee for Weights and Measures
The International Committee of Weights and Measures consists of 18 people, each of whom represents one participating country. The committee meets annually at the headquarters of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. The committee oversees the work of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, coordinates metrological research in the participating countries and makes recommendations to General Conferences on weights and weights.
General Conference on Weights and Measures
General conferences on weights and measures are convened every four years. They include representatives from all countries participating in the metric convention and observers from associate members.
The conference hears the report of the International Committee of Weights and Measures, decides on the improvement and dissemination of the International System of Units ( SI ), approves the budget of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures for the next four years.
List of Participants
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Czech
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- The Republic of Korea
- Lithuania
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- UAE
- Great Britain
- USA
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Associate Members
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belorussia
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Caribbean community
- Republic of China
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Hong Kong
- Jamaica
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Luxembourg
- North Macedonia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Moldavia
- Mongolia
- Namibia
- Oman
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Seychelles
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Notes
- As of March 23, 2018
- ↑ List of member countries of the metric convention on the website of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)
- ↑ List of associate member countries of the metric convention on the website of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)
- ↑ World Metrology Day, 2006 // NCSLI Newsletter. - 2006. - Vol. 46 , No. 2 . - P. 14 .
- ↑ Terry Quinn. 5. The Diplomatic Conference of the Metre, 1875 // From Artefacts to Atoms - The BIPM . - Oxford University Press , 2011. - p. 74-87. - 440 s.
- ↑ International Metric Convention, concluded in Paris on May 20, 1875 // Assembly of Legislations and Orders of the Government, issued under the Governing Senate. 1876. The first half of the year. - SPb: Typography of the Governing Senate. Senate Printing House, 1876. - № 16 .
- ↑ Metric Convention