 It also has custody of the former international prototype of the metre which was retired in 1960.Over the years the various prototypes of the metre and of the kilogram were returned to BIPM headquarters for recalibration services.Initially it had a staff of 9, falling to 4 once the initial batch of prototypes had been distributed; in 2012 it had a staff of over 70 people and an annual budget of over €10 million.