Translated using ChatGPT service.
On Tuesday, September 9, at a Cabinet meeting, the informative report prepared by the Ministry of Economics, titled “On the Review (Rationalization) of the National Metrology Institution and Its Assigned Functions for the Purpose of Optimizing State Funding,” was considered. By implementing these structural changes, it is estimated that savings will be achieved—state budget funding for the Metrology Bureau and maintenance of standards will decrease by €151.3 thousand per year, four staff positions will be reduced, and withdrawal from the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) could yield an additional €40 thousand in savings.
The report was prepared to inform the government about the evaluation conclusions of the National Metrology Institution’s operations and to provide proposals for its reorganization to use state budget funds more efficiently.
Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis stated:
“This is one of the concrete first steps in the plan to consolidate state-owned companies, which foresees the merging of nine companies. The reorganization of the Metrology Bureau demonstrates that we are moving toward the goal of reviewing and streamlining the management of state-owned companies, reducing overlapping functions, and optimizing resources. Such solutions allow for budget savings while ensuring quality service availability for businesses.”
In Latvia, the functions of the National Metrology Institution are carried out by the Metrology Bureau, a structural unit of SIA “Latvian National Metrology Centre” (LNMC), whose main tasks include maintaining and reproducing national measurement standards, type approval of measuring instruments, calibration, international cooperation, and metrology training.
The evaluation indicates that demand for Metrology Bureau services is very low (6–12 clients per year, revenue does not exceed €5,000), national standards are technically outdated and expensive to maintain, while alternative service options are available in neighboring countries. Therefore, participation in the international metrology organization (BIPM) becomes economically unjustified if national standards are not maintained.
It is therefore planned to make the necessary amendments to regulatory acts to liquidate the LNMC structural unit, the Metrology Bureau, as of November 1, 2025, discontinuing the maintenance of physical measurement unit standards and their reproduction. The remaining functions of the Metrology Bureau will be transferred to LNMC.