The basic criteria for the establishment of the national measurement standards system in the Republic of Slovenia have been laid down in the Metrology Act (Official Gazette of RS no. 26/05  of 15 March 2005) and in the Rules on national measurement standards (Official Gazette of RS no. 51/07 of 8 June 2007). Besides the Metrology Institute, which is primarily responsible for national measurement standards, these can also be maintained by other legal entities. The "Rules on national measurement standards" lays down the criteria for the establishment of the national measurement standards system, the conditions for recognizing a measurement standard as a national standard, the maintenance of measuring traceability, the activities and obligations of a national standard holder, monitoring of the activities and obligations of a national standard holder, elements of a contract concluded between MIRS and a legal entity - holder of a national standard - as well as the conditions under which MIRS shall sustain and maintain the national measurement standards.

The conditions for successful performance or implementation of a distributed metrology system in Slovenia are: the appropriate technical level of individual laboratories, which they shall prove through internationally recognized accreditation and through professional work in the relevant field of physical quantities; clear ownership relations; and a guarantee and evidence of continual operation and a stable, long-term collaboration between a particular laboratory and the Metrology Institute. As these activities are of special national importance, stable funding is one of the most important preconditions.

The Metrology Institute, having regard of the "Rules on national measurement standards", has recognized the following measurement standards as national measurement standards: