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World-wide trade necessitates world-wide measurements. Many of these demand the calibration of a device or system; many are connected with conformity assessment, and many have to comply with national or regional legislation. If measurements made by an exporter are not recognized and accepted by importers, the measurements may well have to be repeated to conform with local requirements for traceability for example, or simply in order to create confidence between importer and exporter or with Regulators. There are many examples of repeated practices which increase costs and can be considered as technical barriers to trade (TBTs). Recent studies have shown that 70% of the burden on developing countries' manufacturing exports come from trade barriers erected by other countries. Even in developed countries, the cost of complying with TBTs can account for up to 8% of the cost of exportation. Recognizing that the equivalence of measurements, and their acceptance by national authorities, would help to reduce the effect of TBTs, the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) operates a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for the acceptance of calibration and measurement certificates from national metrology institutes (NMIs). The CIPM MRA will help to sweep away many sources of TBTs by providing an agreed basis for equivalence of measurement and for acceptance of calibration certificates from other NMIs.
The uncertainties associated with the measurements, which are recorded in the BIPM's key comparison database (KCDB) have all been agreed through international peer review, and are at whatever level is appropriate to local needs. The CIPM MRA brings over 160 national and other specialized laboratories together and draws support from the 51 Member States of the Convention and the 20 Associate States and Economies of the General Conference on Weights and Measures. It is relevant to States and Economies at all stages of industrial and metrological development who wish to trade their products.
In January 2006, together with the International Organization of Legal Metrology and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, the BIPM published a declaration of the relevance of the CIPM MRA and related agreements to the reduction of TBTs. It has been sent to Governments, international bodies concerned with trade, regulators and to international economic groupings and authorities, whom we urge to support and adopt it.
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Summary
