Hierarchy Between JCGM and ISO/IEC Documents

Clarify and formalize the hierarchy and authority relationship between JCGM publications (including VIM and GUM) and the ISO/IEC 80000 series, resolving circular citation and establishing which documents have regulatory primacy in defining quantities and related terminology.

Background

The paper notes that VIM’s Note 3 directs readers to the ISO/IEC 80000 series for quantity symbols, yet these ISO/IEC documents are not open-access and, according to the author, have not been formally approved by the other JCGM member organizations. This creates circularity and ambiguity regarding which documents are authoritative.

Resolving this would ensure consistency across metrological standards and avoid reliance on potentially non-integrated external documents for core definitions.