International Affairs

As a consequence of the increasing globalization of trade and economy, the international importance of metrology is increasing as well. In the field "International Affairs", it is the task of the PTB (its mission) "to contribute to the international uniformity of metrology and thus to removing non-tariff barriers to trade". To carry out this task, it cooperates with other national metrology institutes, makes substantial contributions to the work of international bodies and cooperates both in the technical and in the economic field with developing and newly industrialized countries.

One essential element of the cooperation with partner institutes are international key comparisons for standards and standard measuring devices and derived research and development work. Within the scope of the international agreements concluded recently with a view to achieving mutual recognition of measurement results and certificates of the national metrology institutes and accredited test and calibration laboratories, these comparisons are of particular importance.

The global harmonization of requirements and testing regulations in legal metrology serves to remove non-tariff barriers to trade and thus also serves the export-oriented German measuring instrument industry. With these objectives, the PTB actively cooperates in the OIML and in the WELMEC. An international agreement for the mutual recognition of type tests (Mutual Acceptance Arrangement (MAA) was adopted by the OIML in 2003 and became effective for the first time in 2006 through the signing of two "Declarations of Mutual Confidence" (DoMC) for non-automatic weighing instruments and load cells. The existing bilateral agreements have not yet been affected by this – to the advantage of the economy.

The requirements to be met by metrology will in future continuously increase as regards their scope and complexity so that an individual institute cannot satisfy all demands in the long run. Therefore, the PTB cooperates with great commitment with EURAMET, the organisation of the National Metrology Institutes (NMI) in Europe, and has since the summer of 2006 also provided its president.

The target of EURAMET is currently to develop the existing cooperation in R&D to form a coordinated joint metrological task. Within the framework of an ERANET project promoted by the EU, the NMIs are preparing a European research programme in metrology (EHRP) which is to result in a coordinated strategic cooperation of the metrology institutes. The financing of the programme is to be effected jointly by the participating Member States of the EU (these are no new funds but rather funds made available and contributed to the programme by the NMIs from their own funds) and by the EU (Article 169 Initiative). For the development and set-up of the necessary structures (creation of an implementing organisation having legal capacity) the PTB is in charge of operations.In this context, EURAMET - as successor of the former EUROMET - was founded in Berlin on January 11, 2007 as new European Metrology Organization with legal capacity and as incorporated society (e.V.) according to German Law. Thus, as a result, the required structures for the implementation of a European metrology research program have been available since 2007. As it is anticipated that a final decision on European funding according to Article 169 will not be made until 2008, the European Commission has announced the payment of bridging funds amounting to 21 million euros for research funding.

In addition to its European involvement, the PTB works also actively in all international metrology organisations, to a considerable extent in a leading function. It considers this to be an indispensable contribution to assuring the competitiveness of the German economy and to safeguarding the interest and needs of society.

The PTB also makes a substantial contribution to international standardization by cooperating in the bodies of ISO, IEC, CEN and CENELEC. In 2006, PTB was involved in more than 300 projects. The PTB views this as an important task in the service of the society and economy.

Great importance is attached to technical cooperation with developing and newly industrialized countries. The PTB passes on its experience and lends active support in the setting-up of the technical infrastructure for metrology as well as for standardization, testing and quality assurance, including accreditation and certification. The funds are provided chiefly by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and other national and international donors such as the EU and the World Bank.

In 2006, 21 countries in four continents have been supported in the establishment of their MSTQ structure by 25 bilateral projects. Additional countries profit from a total of 15 regional and sectoral projects. The financial contribution of Germany amounted to 4 million euros.