. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/10 
2 July 2004  
 
(04-2849) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
 
 
 
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OIML AT THE  
TBT COMMITTEE MEETING OF 1 JULY 2004 
 
Agenda Item 6(b):  Updating By Observers  
  
 The following document, dated 29 June 2004, is being circulated at the request of the OIML
. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
1. The OIML works for international harmonization in the field of legal metrology. The 
following developments in its work in the area of developing countries are of interest to the work of 
the TBT Committee. 
I. PERMANENT WORKING GROUP ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
2. Following the 38th CIML Meeting in 2003, this Permanent Working Group was set up to 
replace the existig Development Council.  It is in tended to make the OIML's developing country 
activities more efficient and will act as an advisory group to the CIML and its President.  The group is 
chaired by Eberhard Seiler of the PTB (Germany) a nd consists of around ten pe rsons, so as to be able 
to concentrate on practical actions for developing countries. 
II. FORUM: METROLOGY – TRADE FACILITATOR – WHAT IS NEEDED, WHAT IS 
OFFERED 
3. This Forum for developing countries will be held  in association with the OIML Conference 
and Committee Meetings in Berlin, Germany in Oc tober 2004.  It will allow the presentation and 
discussion of needs and offers of technical assistance  in legal metrology thr ough the use of posters, 
keynote speakers and round table discussions. 
III. EXPERT REPORTS 
4. The OIML intends to publish a series of "Expert  reports" which, while they do not necessarily 
represent the views of the OIML, present the views of a known expert in a particular field.  They are 
intended to be of particular he lp to developing countries, and the two most recent publications 
concern the verification of commercial weights a nd the control of prepackages, both matters of 
concern in developing countries.  The OIML will be hiring experts to produce papers on a range of 
subjects recommended by Members. 
IV. OIML PUBLICATIONS 
5. In order to better promote the use of OIML Recommendations and other publications, it is 
proposed that from the beginning of 2005 they sha ll all be available free of charge on the OIML 
website, except where they are jointly published with  another organization.  No paper copies will be 
produced from that date. G/TBT/GEN/10 
Page 2  
 
6. The OIML has also begun to produce a regular newsletter, as well as its quarterly Bulletin, so 
as to keep Members more up to date with the Organization's activities. 
__________ 
 
 