The gas meter commission of China metrology association was officially founded in Beijing, which will positively encourage the development of gas meter industry.

    Gas meter is the measuring instrument accently supervised by national metrology administration department. As gas meter is a special product used in trade settlement with the medium of flammable gas, it is critical in safety, reliability and accuracy of gas meter. In recent years, natural gas has been widely applied as a clear energy especially in the key construction project of west gas transporting to east and large-scale development of city and town residence, encouraging the rapid development of gas meter industry. According to preliminary information, the gas meter manufacturing enterprises have been soared from more than 40 in 90th last century to nearly 200 by this time with annual output of more than 10,000,000 and sales revenue nearly 1.5 billion.

    The rapid development of gas meter industry also brought indispensable problems: firstly, the technology level and product quality of manufacturing enterprises are uneven, some enterprises are at starting point. Secondly, there is a lack of industry coordination and self-discipline mechanism that results in unfair competition at times with the increasingly intensified market competition. Thirdly, there is relatively greater difference between the present gas meter national standard and advanced international standard, which affects to some extent the gas meter product entering into international market. To establish a trade organization that reflects the enterprises' desire and has coordinating and self-discipline function is of important significance.

    After establishment, the gas meter commission will undertake the following major tasks: firstly, to propagandize and carry through laws and regulations and policy of national metrology; secondly, to conduct exchange activity for management experience and technology, so as to promote the development of industry; thirdly, to undertake tasks commissioned by the government department, to conduct industry investigation, participate in enacting national standards and technical code, organize scientific tackling and popularization; fourthly, to assist government department to strengthen industry management, set up self-discipline mechanism and safeguard the interest of industry; fifthly, to provide consultancy for enterprises and to carry out technology training and cooperation activity, in order to help the enterprise administrators and technicians improving their business level; sixthly, to carry out international exchange and cooperation activity, introducing advanced technology and management experience abroad.