The OIML and the purpose of international recommendations

This article was presented to the CITAC workshop in Wellington, New Zealand on 3 May 2004. It explains the role of the Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Legalé (OIML) and work carried out to promote harmonisation in the field of legal metrology—the part of metrology relating to activities which result from statutory requirements and concern measurement, units of measurement, measuring instruments and methods of measurement and which are performed by competent bodies. It also discusses the publications issued to achieve harmonisation. The article also discusses New Zealand’s recent elevation to full membership of the OIML and the commitment to make the membership work to the benefit of the whole New Zealand measurement industry.