The General Conference receives the report of the CIPM on work accomplished; it discusses and examines the arrangements required to ensure the propagation and improvement of the International System of Units (SI); it endorses the results of new fundamental metrological determinations and various scientific resolutions of international scope; and it decides all major issues concerning the organization and development of the BIPM, including its financial endowment.
[12] Of the twenty countries that attended the Conference of the Metre in 1875, representatives of seventeen signed the convention on 20 May 1875.
Broch, director of the BIPM replied that he was not authorised to perform any such calibrations for non-member states.
As of 18 November 2022[update], there are 64 Member States[14] and 37 Associate States and Economies of the General Conference[15] (with year of partnership in parentheses): Argentina (1877) Australia (1947) Austria (1875)[n1 1] Belarus (2020) Belgium (1875) Brazil (1921) Bulgaria (1911) Canada (1907) Chile (1908) China (1977) Colombia (2012) Costa Rica (2022) Croatia (2008) Czech Republic (1922)[n1 2] Denmark (1875) Ecuador (2019) Egypt (1962) Estonia (2021) Finland (1913) France (1875) Germany (1875)[n1 3] Greece (2001) Hungary (1925)[n1 1] India (1880) Indonesia (1960) Iran (1975) Iraq (2013) Ireland (1925) Israel (1985) Italy (1875) Japan (1885) Kazakhstan (2008) Kenya (2010) Lithuania (2015) Malaysia (2001) Mexico (1890) Montenegro (2018) Morocco (2019) Netherlands (1929) New Zealand (1991) Norway (1875)[n1 4] Pakistan (1973) Poland (1925) Portugal (1876) Romania (1884) Russia (1875)[n1 5] Saudi Arabia (2011) Serbia (2001) Singapore (1994) Slovakia (1922)[n1 2] Slovenia (2016) South Africa (1964) South Korea (1959) Spain (1875) Sweden (1875)[n1 4] Switzerland (1875) Thailand (1912) Tunisia (2012) Turkey (1875)[n1 6] Ukraine (2018) United Arab Emirates (2015) United Kingdom (1884) United States (1878) Uruguay (1908) Cameroon (1970–2012) Dominican Republic (1954–2015) North Korea (1982–2012) Peru (1875–1956) Venezuela (1879–1907, 1960–2018) At the 21st meeting of the CGPM in October 1999, the category of "associate" was created for states not yet BIPM members and for economic unions.
[16] Albania (2007) Azerbaijan (2015) Bangladesh (2010) Bolivia (2008) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2011) Botswana (2012) Cambodia (2021) Caribbean Community (2005) Chinese Taipei (2002) Cuba (2000) Ethiopia (2018) Georgia (2008) Ghana (2009) Hong Kong (2000) Jamaica (2003) Kuwait (2018) Latvia (2001) Luxembourg (2014) Malta (2001) Mauritius (2010) Moldova (2007) Mongolia (2013) Namibia (2012) North Macedonia (2006) Oman (2012) Panama (2003) Paraguay (2009) Peru (2009) Philippines (2002) Qatar (2016) Sri Lanka (2007) Syria (2012) Tanzania (2018) Uzbekistan (2018) Vietnam (2003) Zambia (2010) Zimbabwe (2010–2020, 2022) Seychelles (2010–2021) Sudan (2014–2021) The International Committee for Weights and Measures consists of eighteen persons, each of a different nationality.
In 1999, the CIPM has established the CIPM Arrangement de reconnaissance mutuelle (Mutual Recognition Arrangement, MRA), which serves as the framework for the mutual acceptance of national measurement standards and for recognition of the validity of calibration and measurement certificates issued by national metrology institutes.
Apart from the CCU, membership of a CC is open to National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) of Member States that are recognized internationally as most expert in the field.
[57] The report originated from a resolution passed at the 20th CGPM (October 1995) which committed the CIPM to study and report on the long-term national and international needs relating to metrology, the appropriate international collaborations and the unique role of the BIPM to meet these needs, and the financial and other commitments that will be required from the Member States in the coming decades.The report identified, amongst other things, a need for closer cooperation between the BIPM and other organisations such as International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) with clearly defined boundaries and interfaces between the organisations.
The Kaarls Report[58] published in 2003 examined the role of the BIPM in the evolving needs for metrology in trade, industry and society.
The CIPM has responsibility for commissioning the SI brochure, which is the formal definition of the International system of units.