26th CIML Meeting — Minutes (EN, Bulletin)

Mr ATHANE said that Cameroon was the only Member State that was in arrears in its subscriptions to OIML by more than the three years allowed by the Convention. However, as Mr NOUMSI had given his assurance that part of the arrears would be paid quickly, no measures against that country were called for. Mr ATHANE also indicated that he had contacted the Lebanese embassy in Paris to ask it to consider its country's position with regard to its membership of OIML.

Mr ATHANE said that Cameroon was the only Member State that was in arrears in its subscriptions to OIML by more than the three years allowed by the Convention. However, as Mr NOUMSI had given his assurance that part of the arrears would be paid quickly, no measures against that country were called for. Mr ATHANE also indicated that he had contacted the Lebanese embassy in Paris to ask it to consider its country's position with regard to its membership of OIML.

Mr ATHANE said that the financial estimates sent out at the end of 1990 remained current; in particular the rate of inflation in France was still slightly below the figure of 3.5 % assumed in the estimates. He added that the estimates for 1992 would be sent to CIML Members in about two months and that they would be more or less in line with the budget voted by the Conference in 1988.

Mr ATHANE said that the financial estimates sent out at the end of 1990 remained current; in particular the rate of inflation in France was still slightly below the figure of 3.5 % assumed in the estimates. He added that the estimates for 1992 would be sent to CIML Members in about two months and that they would be more or less in line with the budget voted by the Conference in 1988.

Mr ATHANE informed the Committee of the general staffing position in the Bureau, and in particular of the pending retirement of Mr Emerson in April 1992; his successor would be appointed later by Mr Birkeland by agreement with Mr Athané (since only the nominations of the Director and his Assistants were the prerogative of the Committee); the Director had already contacted certain English-speaking Member States with a view to seeking candidates.

Mr ATHANE informed the Committee of the general staffing position in the Bureau, and in particular of the pending retirement of Mr Emerson in April 1992; his successor would be appointed later by Mr Birkeland by agreement with Mr Athané (since only the nominations of the Director and his Assistants were the prerogative of the Committee); the Director had already contacted certain English-speaking Member States with a view to seeking candidates.

Mr BIRKELAND, continuing the drift of his previous remarks, said that many ideas about the future of the System had already been expressed and, as no one sought the floor, concluded the discussion with the proposal that the Committee acquire another year's experience before proceeding, if necessary, to a revision of the System's basic rules. Naturally all the ideas that had been expressed orally would be kept by the Bureau as working material for the Committee at its next meeting.

Mr BIRKELAND, continuing the drift of his previous remarks, said that many ideas about the future of the System had already been expressed and, as no one sought the floor, concluded the discussion with the proposal that the Committee acquire another year's experience before proceeding, if necessary, to a revision of the System's basic rules. Naturally all the ideas that had been expressed orally would be kept by the Bureau as working material for the Committee at its next meeting.

Mr BIRKELAND, continuing the drift of his previous remarks, said that many ideas about the future of the System had already been expressed and, as no one sought the floor, concluded the discussion with the proposal that the Committee acquire another year's experience before proceeding, if necessary, to a revision of the System's basic rules. Naturally all the ideas that had been expressed orally would be kept by the Bureau as working material for the Committee at its next meeting.

Mr BIRKELAND introduced the Bureau's preliminary proposal for the new structures to be established in application of the future procedures, since it appeared that CIML was in agreement in principle with the procedures discussed under item 6.1. The Bureau's proposal consisted of a list of projects that could lead to the drafting of new Recommendations or to the revision of existing Recommendations.

Mr BIRKELAND introduced the Bureau's preliminary proposal for the new structures to be established in application of the future procedures, since it appeared that CIML was in agreement in principle with the procedures discussed under item 6.1. The Bureau's proposal consisted of a list of projects that could lead to the drafting of new Recommendations or to the revision of existing Recommendations.

Mr BIRKELAND introduced the Bureau's preliminary proposal for the new structures to be established in application of the future procedures, since it appeared that CIML was in agreement in principle with the procedures discussed under item 6.1. The Bureau's proposal consisted of a list of projects that could lead to the drafting of new Recommendations or to the revision of existing Recommendations.

The Committee made no comment on the Bureau's proposals for the agenda for the Conference or on the budget that could be submitted for the Conference's consideration. As regarded the budget, draft estimates would be sent officially to the Member States towards the end of 1991, seeking their comments so that a final proposal could be included in the papers for the Conference, which should be sent out in the spring of 1992.

The Committee made no comment on the Bureau's proposals for the agenda for the Conference or on the budget that could be submitted for the Conference's consideration. As regarded the budget, draft estimates would be sent officially to the Member States towards the end of 1991, seeking their comments so that a final proposal could be included in the papers for the Conference, which should be sent out in the spring of 1992.

Mr BIRKELAND reminded Members that the secretariat SP 30-Sr 1 should have revised Recommendation R 54 on the pH scales of aqueous solutions to align it with the IUPAC Recommendation. However, the Recommendation not having yet been so revised despite repeated reminders from the Bureau, the latter had been obliged to suspend the work of SP 30-Sr 1. It was noted that it had not yet been possible to hold the projected meeting between experts of IUPAC and of OIML, and that the experts were not unanimously in favour of IUPAC's decisions. The Committee decided to postpone discussion of this matter, in particular whether to confirm or cancel R 54, until its next meeting.

Mr BIRKELAND reminded Members that the secretariat SP 30-Sr 1 should have revised Recommendation R 54 on the pH scales of aqueous solutions to align it with the IUPAC Recommendation. However, the Recommendation not having yet been so revised despite repeated reminders from the Bureau, the latter had been obliged to suspend the work of SP 30-Sr 1. It was noted that it had not yet been possible to hold the projected meeting between experts of IUPAC and of OIML, and that the experts were not unanimously in favour of IUPAC's decisions. The Committee decided to postpone discussion of this matter, in particular whether to confirm or cancel R 54, until its next meeting.

The Committee made no comment on the Bureau's proposals for the agenda for the Conference or on the budget that could be submitted for the Conference's consideration. As regarded the budget, draft estimates would be sent officially to the Member States towards the end of 1991, seeking their comments so that a final proposal could be included in the papers for the Conference, which should be sent out in the spring of 1992.

The Committee noted the content of a letter from CECIP (Comité Européen des Constructeurs d'Instruments de Pesage - European committee of weighing-machine manufacturers), in which the European manufacturers indicated their intention to urge their national authorities to put OIML Recommendations into effect as soon as they were published, and asking OIML to urge its Member States to associate manufacturers with the work of OIML, whether in national working groups or in national delegations at meetings. OIML was also asked to insist that Recommendations be written in terms of the metrological performance to be achieved, and not to include design requirements, because the latter could be a brake on innovation and impede progress.

The Committee noted the content of a letter from CECIP (Comité Européen des Constructeurs d'Instruments de Pesage - European committee of weighing-machine manufacturers), in which the European manufacturers indicated their intention to urge their national authorities to put OIML Recommendations into effect as soon as they were published, and asking OIML to urge its Member States to associate manufacturers with the work of OIML, whether in national working groups or in national delegations at meetings. OIML was also asked to insist that Recommendations be written in terms of the metrological performance to be achieved, and not to include design requirements, because the latter could be a brake on innovation and impede progress.

The Committee noted the content of a letter from CECIP (Comité Européen des Constructeurs d'Instruments de Pesage - European committee of weighing-machine manufacturers), in which the European manufacturers indicated their intention to urge their national authorities to put OIML Recommendations into effect as soon as they were published, and asking OIML to urge its Member States to associate manufacturers with the work of OIML, whether in national working groups or in national delegations at meetings. OIML was also asked to insist that Recommendations be written in terms of the metrological performance to be achieved, and not to include design requirements, because the latter could be a brake on innovation and impede progress.